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https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Hermit-Crab	How to Clean a Hermit Crab	To clean a hermit crab, choose a container that your crab can submerge itself in completely, such as a small bowl or food storage tub. Fill the container with a mixture of aquarium salt and dechlorinated water at a ratio of half a cup of salt to each gallon of water. Let the saltwater mixture reach room temperature before putting your crab in it. Once you put the crab in the water, don't try to scrub it. Instead, just let the crab sit in the water and clean itself. After the crab seems to be done with its cleaning routine, move it back to its regular habitat and dispose of the bathwater.	Get a small container. The container will need to be big enough that your crab can completely submerge itself in the water. A small Tupperware container would work well. You can also use a bowl from your kitchen. Make sure any container you select is clean. You want your hermit crab to bathe in a clean environment. You can quickly clean your container with soap and water prior to placing your hermit crab inside of it. Prepare your sea salt mixture. You can buy a sea salt mixture at a pet store or make one at home. If you choose to make your own, do not simply mix salt and water. The sea salt mixture is prepared in a specific way to help clean a hermit crab. You will need to use chlorine free aquarium water in your sea salt mixture. For every gallon of water, use half a cup of sea salt. If you buy a sea salt mixture from a pet store, how you prepare the mixture varies. You will have to follow the instructions on the package that came with your mixture. Pour your sea salt mixture into the bowl. Once you have prepared your mixture, you can transfer it to your container. Make sure to add enough water that your crab can fully submerge itself in the sea salt mixture. Leave the bath sitting out for a bit. You should not bathe your hermit crab until the water is at room temperature. Remove chlorine from any water you use. Chlorine can be very harmful to hermit crabs. Aquarium water may not contain chlorine. However, if you cannot find chlorine free water, you will need to remove the chlorine yourself. You can purchase a solution to remove chlorine from water at a pet store. Follow the instructions carefully. Usually, you only need to use a few drops to remove chlorine from a gallon of water. You can store extra water in your fridge to bathe your crab in the future. Make sure to bathe your crab after a molt. Crabs that have just molted have an exoskeleton smell on them. If you have other crabs, they may want to feed on a freshly molted crab. You should bathe a crab shortly after it molts to prevent this if you have multiple crabs in one tank. Be careful where you bathe your crab. You want to make sure the area is safe. In the event your crab crawls out of the container, you want it to be safe. If possible, bathe your crab on the floor. Crabs cannot see downward, and may not be able to tell where the edge of the table is. Keep anything toxic, like pesticides, away from the area where you're bathing your crab. Pick up your hermit crab and set it in the water. It is safe to pick up the hermit crab by the shell. Use your dominant hand to do so. Place your other hand just below the crab. Stretch out your hand and hold it with your palm facing up. Make sure to stretch your hand as much as you can. You want your skin to be flat. A hermit crab my pinch loose skin. Hermit crabs will not feel secure if there is not a surface beneath them when being held. It's important to keep your outstretched below the crab as you transfer your crab to the water. Wait for your crab to bathe itself. You do not need to bathe your hermit crab yourself. A hermit crab will use the salt water to bathe itself. Allow your crab to use the bath as long as it needs. Do not remove your hermit crab until it stops bathing itself. If you've never bathed your crab before, it may take a bit to come out of its shell. Have patience. Remove your crab from the bath. Pick your crab up by its shell again. Remember to keep one outstretched hand below the crab. Place your crab back in its aquarium.	Get a small container. Prepare your sea salt mixture. Pour your sea salt mixture into the bowl. Remove chlorine from any water you use. Make sure to bathe your crab after a molt. Be careful where you bathe your crab. Pick up your hermit crab and set it in the water. Wait for your crab to bathe itself. Remove your crab from the bath.
https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-You-Have-Anxiety-Attack-Symptoms	How to Tell if You Have Anxiety Attack Symptoms	To tell if you're having an anxiety attack, monitor yourself for symptoms like difficulty breathing, nausea, pounding heart, chills, or hot flashes. You might also experience depersonalization, or the sensation that you're outside of your body. Additionally, you might feel as though you're in a dream. If you think you're experiencing a panic attack, sit or lie down and try your best to take slow, deep breaths. By taking deep breaths, you'll help your body calm down, and your physical and mental symptoms should start to subside.	Concentrate on your breathing. Many people who are experiencing an anxiety attack feel as if they're choking. This can be one of the scariest symptoms of an anxiety attack. You feel like you cannot breathe and that, in turn, can increase your level of panic. In such situations it is very important to do your best to draw slow, deep breaths. As your body and your mind constantly influence each other, breathing slowly sends signals to your mind that trick it into a state of relaxation. Frantic breathing will just tell your brain that you are in danger and will increase your panic. Distract your brain from feelings of nausea. Feeling like you might throw up is a common sensation when in a shocking and stressful situation. What you need to do in such occasions, in order to send calming signals to your brain, is sit down comfortably and try breathing deeply. Nausea due to anxiety is not stomach related and can dissipate quickly. Avoid closing your eyes, as this will make you concentrate on the feeling of nausea even harder. Instead, focus on somebody else or on a detail of your surroundings. Doing so will help distract your brain and will help the nausea go away faster. Feel your heart pounding. A pounding heart and shooting pains in the chest, neck, or head is common with anxiety attacks. This symptom resembles a heart attack very closely and so it can be incredibly scary. In this scenario, lie down and breathe deeply. The pain will go away when your body becomes more relaxed. If you do not have a serious heart condition, you can rest assured that it is in fact an anxiety attack coming on. Still, the best course of action here is to lie down. Notice chills or hot flashes. Sudden feelings of hot flashes or cold chills are a common physical symptom a panic attack. You might start sweating heavily or tremble, as this is caused by adrenaline being released. These symptoms usually go away in a few minutes. Some people tend to get very hot while others get very cold; it all depends on the person. Luckily, it rarely leads to more serious consequences, like fainting, because it usually passes within minutes. Massage parts of your body that feel numb. You may feel this as a "pins and needles" feeling. Like other symptoms, this feeling is very unpleasant but passes rather quickly. What you should try to do is sit down, breathe deeply, and rub the part of your body that is feeling numb. This will improve blood circulation and will send signals to your brain telling it to focus on that part of the body, easing the symptoms. It is important to remember that these symptoms do not mean you are seriously ill, but rather that your stress levels have become too high and these symptoms are your body's way of showing you that you need to work on reducing stress. Take note when the symptoms appear. A panic attack can come on suddenly and appear to be unrelated to anything. It can also come on due to fear or worry about what might happen if you have a panic attack. If you have never had a panic attack before, you may think you are having a heart attack or think something very serious is happening. Many people may call 911 or visit the ER when they get their first anxiety attack, since the symptoms can be scary. About 25% of people who visit the ER with chest pain are actually experiencing a panic attack. Get treated. If you do visit the ER during a panic attack, the doctor will give you an EKG to monitor your heart to rule out a heart attack or other heart complication. He or she may also provide medication to help you calm down. Panic attacks will usually reach their peak, or the most intense symptoms, within 10 minutes of the episode. Most anxiety attacks will end within 20-30 minutes. Feel a sense of depersonalization. This is the sensation of not being in your own body. You might feel like you are observing the situation from a distance or that you don't know what is real and what isn't. This symptom of anxiety attacks is an indicator for very strong fear and frustration and it can be a very unreal and inexplicable feeling. In other words, reality will feel entirely different. This makes it doubly hard to come back to the present moment. If you do sense this depersonalization, try to bring yourself back by concentrating on your breathing or the sensation of an object in your hands. Is it hot or cold? Sharp or soft? Being in the moment can make this symptom easier to deal with. Pay attention to feelings of "derealization. " This is the feeling as though you are in a dream. The situation, along with your emotions, thoughts and physical experiences might seem like it is not real, but rather a memory or a nightmare. This feeling occurs during the stages of very strong affect but is likely to go away in a few minutes. The method of handling this is similar as with depersonalization. Focus on the objects in front of you or the people you are with. Focus on your sensations of touch, sight, and sound. Those are constants that do not change. Know that you're not going crazy. Anxiety attacks cause a myriad of symptoms that are very unusual compared to everyday experiences. Those feelings, especially the emotional and mental symptoms, can make you feel as though are not normal, hallucinating, or are going crazy. This is a very scary sensation that might leave you feeling terribly helpless. This is normal. You are not going crazy; you are simply experiencing an anxiety attack. If you are experiencing this, try to remember that it will pass and concentrate on your surroundings. This will distract your brain and make you feel grounded and closer to reality. Consider heredity. Although the exact reason why some people are more susceptible than others to experiencing panic attacks is unknown, researchers believe there are several contributing factors. Hereditary is one of the possible causes. This is the passing on of certain traits from parents to children. Studies have shown that children of parents who suffer from some type of anxiety disorder are more likely to have an anxiety disorder later in life. Additionally, research shows that if one twin of an identical set has an anxiety disorder, the probability of the other twin also having an anxiety disorder ranges from 31-88 percent. Think about possible childhood circumstances. Childhood circumstances can also contribute to anxiety. Although further research is needed, some studies suggest that children were more likely to have an anxiety disorder later in life if: they were raised in households whose parents had an overly cautious view of the world, had parents who set very high standards or were overly critical, or had parents who denied or suppressed their childrens' feelings or self-assertion. Reduce stress. The last common cause of anxiety attacks is cumulative stress, or stress experienced overtime. Chronic stress and exhaustion can be a result of cumulative stress, which is how it greatly contributes to anxiety or panic. Serious life events such as a divorce, bankruptcy, or children leaving the home, can all contribute to anxiety when experienced together or in close succession. It also happens when there seems to be no break from changes and stress. Other serious life events that may trigger a panic attack are traumatic events such as car wrecks. Situations like this are extremely stressful on the body and mind and can trigger a physiological response to stress in the form of a panic attack. Look for other causes. It is possible to have previous conditions, such as a mitral valve prolapse or hypoglycemia, that can trigger a panic attack. Sometimes use of illicit drugs, medications, or vitamin deficiencies can also trigger a panic attack, and increase your risk of developing a panic disorder. Recognize an underlying condition. There are several different types of anxiety disorder which have a panic component, but just because you've had a panic attack does not mean that you have a disorder of any kind. However, if you notice that your panic attacks are more intense, are lasting longer, or are more frequent, these are signs that you may have something else going on other than a normal stress or anxiety response to stressors in your life. Consult a therapist. Anxiety attacks can be a symptom of a larger anxiety disorder. If the fear of having a panic attack is keeping you from your normal routines, such as not leaving the house or avoiding your son's basketball games, these are signs that anxiety or panic is starting to keep you from functioning at your full capacity. In these situations, you should consult a therapist for help. Treatment for anxiety or panic differs depending on exactly which type of anxiety disorder you have. However, there are some general techniques that a therapist will teach you. She may take you through relaxation training and teach you to promote positive lifestyle changes such as exercise. She may also help you challenge your unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate your anxiety. Some therapists may help you by desensitizing you to physical symptoms of panic so you are no longer fearful, which will help you to not cause future panic attacks due to fear. Take medication. In some cases, medication may also be helpful to control panic. In most cases, it should not be the only treatment and should be combined with therapy. Medications used to help control panic include antidepressants, which are taken daily and provide long term help. You can also take benzodiazepines, which are fast-acting medications used during or in anticipation of oncoming panic. Examples of antidepressants prescribed for panic include Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro. Common benzodiazepines prescribed include clonazepam, lorazepam, and alprazolam. Treat adolescent anxiety attacks. The signs and symptoms of panic attacks are the same for children and adolescents as they are for adults. If a panic disorder is diagnosed, psychotherapy would be the first treatment option over medication for children, unless the disorder and panic is severe. Psychotherapy for children is similar to therapy for adults, but tailored in ways that can manage and understand the information and interventions. Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to help children and adolescents challenge and change irrational thought patterns that are reinforcing panic. Additionally, children and adolescents learn relaxation techniques to help them manage anxiety and panic outside of the therapy office. As a parent, it is hard to know how to help your child who is experiencing a panic attack, and it may seem beneficial to reason with your child and tell them that nothing is actually wrong. However, it is more helpful to acknowledge your child's fear reaction and physiological responses and well as how uncomfortable the experience can be.	Concentrate on your breathing. Distract your brain from feelings of nausea. Feel your heart pounding. Notice chills or hot flashes. Massage parts of your body that feel numb. Take note when the symptoms appear. Get treated. Feel a sense of depersonalization. Pay attention to feelings of "derealization. Know that you're not going crazy. Consider heredity. Think about possible childhood circumstances. Reduce stress. Look for other causes. Recognize an underlying condition. Consult a therapist. Take medication. Treat adolescent anxiety attacks.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Hair-Look-Short	How to Make Your Hair Look Short	To make your hair look short, start by curling your hair with a curling iron or rollers to give it texture and make the style look more natural. Then, create a top and bottom layer by dividing your hair in a straight line from one ear to the other. Next, pin the top layer up and tease the bottom section to give it extra texture and lift. After the bottom section is teased, create three braids and pin them up at the back of your head. Finally, unpin the top section and arrange it so it completely covers the braids.	Put your hair up in a ponytail or bun. Let the shorter layers of your hair hang loose, creating a "short" look, while the bulk of your longer hair is pulled back and out of the way. From the front, it will look like you have a shorter cut. The ponytail can either be left as it is or rolled up and pinned against the back of your head. Putting your hair in a bun is also a great way to disguise length. If all your hair is wrapped up, nobody will know how long it is. You can also just tie long hair into a half-bun, leaving some strands hanging loose. Sweep the extra loose hair onto your shoulders and out of the way. This usually looks best if you have a layered cut to begin with. Talk to your stylist about a layered cut if necessary. Braid your hair. If you braid the hair tightly, it will appear shorter than if it was just hanging down your back. There are a variety of styles of braids such as the regular three-strand braid, fish braid and French braid. If you're going for a looser look but want it to still seem shorter, leave some pieces out in the front near your face. If you have protective braids, like micro braids, you can make your hair appear even shorter by styling these braids in ponytails, buns, and more. Roll your hair under. Place a headband around your head with the back of the band pushed down near the top of your neck. Starting just behind the ear, roll your hair under and tuck your hair into the band. Secure it with a few bobby pins. Keep tucking until you reach the other ear. Use hairspray to hold it in place. Curl your hair. Try curling your hair with foam rollers, bobby pins, fabric, or whatever tools you want to use. Do it while the hair is wet and use conditioner, setting lotion, hair spray or any other hair products that set and hold curls. If you can, let your curls set in rollers overnight so your hair completely dries without the use of your hair dryer. If you want really short, bouncy curls, let your hair dry naturally. When you let your hair air dry, it dries at a slower rate and your finished hairstyle turns out with much more defined curls that have a tighter hold, which makes your hair look shorter. Pin your hair under with bobby pins. Part your hair from ear to ear in a headband shape. Keep the parts about 1 centimeter (0.4 in) wide. Use an elastic band to keep each part out the way. Split the rest of your hair into four or five sections. Bring the first section up so that it drapes over your face. Bobby pin it, then flip it back over to your shoulders and bobby pin it. Repeat with the rest of the sections. Part the "headband" you started with, then pin it back over your head over the bobby pins. Try to hide them and bobby pin the cover piece in place. Clip your hair under. If you have layered hair, clip the bottom of your hair like as in the "bobby pin method." Roll the longest layers, then clip them at the base of your neck so that they appear shorter. Then let the top layers of hair cascade over the bottom. It will appear as if your top layers are your longest layers. Curl your hair. Curling your hair will give your hair texture, which will be very helpful in making your hair look shorter. Curling your hair also will make the bob appear more realistic because people will be less able to tell it's a faux-bob. Curl your hair however you like. Use a curling iron. Sleep in rollers or use steam rollers. Or, use a setting lotion spray and set the hair on rollers. Then, let it dry naturally overnight for a deeper hold. Divide your hair from ear-to-ear. You want to create a top layer and an underlayer. Wrap the top layer (the hair above your ears) into a ponytail while you work on the underlayer. Leave the underlayer out to shorten into faux-bob. Divide your underlayer into three sections. They don't have to be perfect or even, but you want a section of hair from the left side of your head and some from the right. Leave some hair in between the right and left sections on the back of your head. Separate the three sections with a clip. Tease out each section of hair. Teasing your hair will give it extra texture and lift,making it easier for you to pull off this faux bob style. Grab one of the three sections of your hair and tease it. Place the comb a few inches away from the scalp and start back combing the hair by pushing it up toward the roots. This will bunch the hair up at the scalp. (It will look messy kind of like a bird's nest.)Then do the same for the other two sections. Braid each section. For this step you will need hair-ties. Braid each individual section of hair with a regular three-strand braid. Do not start braiding your hair from the scalp, but braid your hair about an inch or two down from the scalp. When you're done braiding, secure each braid with a hair tie. Lightly pull the strands of your braid to get ready to pin them in place. Pin the braids up in place using bobby pins. Grab the bottom part of one of your braids and bobby pin it up under to the base of your head. Make sure the bobby pin is secure, then do the same to the other two braids. Let the top layer of your hair out. The top layer should be shorter than the rest. Make sure the bottom layer is completely hidden by the top then curl or straighten the hair as desired. Be careful not to way down the top layer with too much product or your hair will look flat and greasy. Lift up the roots by teasing them slightly for added volume at the crown, which is a common look with a bob. Wear a stylish hat. Put your hair in a ponytail at the base of your neck, then loop the ends of your hair around each other to form a bun. Tuck your hair under a stylish summer hat, or a knitted cap in the wintertime. You'll need to smooth out the hair to make it even across the entire neckline. Grab any stray hairs and tuck them up and under as well. Get a layered haircut. Ask your hairdresser if he or she can do something with your haircut to make your hair look shorter, without actually cutting the longest layers. Layers can be very effective in styling your hair to look shorter, even if it's long. If none of these styles suit you, consider just letting your hairdresser cut your hair. Even if you're nervous about a short cut, the great thing about hair is that it always grows back. Wear a short wig. If you love your natural hair, it's easy to find a wig in a short style that suits your face and matches your hair color. Make sure to get a high-quality wig made of human hair. Synthetic wigs burn easily when you style them with hot tools, and they don't last as long. A poor quality wig will often look tacky, unkempt or fake, and it can cause minor skin problems on people with sensitive skin. Synthetic wigs are usually harder to care for and groom. Each wig should come with instructions on how to wear them and ensure they stay in place. Some require glue to secure them, while others have clips that clip on to your hair at the roots. In any case, ensure that your natural hair is pinned securely and flat on your head. Wear a wig cap if necessary. Don't forget that some wigs are not waterproof. Check the label for care instructions. Overall remember to have fun with your hair and all the different styles you can wear it.	Put your hair up in a ponytail or bun. Braid your hair. Roll your hair under. Curl your hair. Pin your hair under with bobby pins. Clip your hair under. Curl your hair. Divide your hair from ear-to-ear. Divide your underlayer into three sections. Tease out each section of hair. Braid each section. Pin the braids up in place using bobby pins. Let the top layer of your hair out. Wear a stylish hat. Get a layered haircut. Wear a short wig.
https://www.wikihow.com/Style-African-Hair	How to Style African Hair	African hair is uniquely beautiful and you can style yours a variety of ways to suit your look. Dreadlocks are a fashionable option that require little maintenance. You can also style your hair in an afro by combing it into tufts with a wide-toothed comb, pick, or natural-bristled brush. Alternatively, try box braids or cornrows, which look great with short or long hair. For a temporary option, style your hair in twists. Just don't leave them in for more than 2 weeks unless you want them to become dreads. Another good option is curling your hair with heated curlers. Whichever style you choose, it's best to deep condition your hair first and de-tangle it with a rat-tail comb to make your hair easier to work with. Pat your hair dry with a microfiber towel instead of rubbing it, which will help prevent frizz.	Get the right hair products. Use products formulated for your hair's texture. African hair can be straight, wavy, curly, or kinky. So if you have dry, curly hair, for example, consider using a moisturizing shampoo. The products you use should contain natural moisturizers, such as olive oil or shea butter. Avoid shampoos and conditioners that contain parabens, phthalates, or petrochemicals. Beware common ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate as these are basically detergents that will strip moisture from your hair. When washing a child's hair, use age-appropriate products. Use gentle shampoos and conditioners that are moisturizing and tear-free. Wash your hair. Since African hair tends to be dry, it doesn't need to be shampooed every day. It is important, however, to wash your hair every 7 to 14 days. First, wet your hair under the facet or with a spray bottle. Squirt or pour a dime to a quarter-sized drop of moisturizing shampoo into your hand. Lather and apply directly to your scalp. Rinse your hair with warm water. Always follow shampoo with a rinse-out-conditioner. Massage a generous amount of conditioner into the shafts of your hair--avoiding the roots and scalp. With the conditioner in, use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair. Allow the product to soak before rinsing with cold water. Squeeze out excess water. If your hair is excessively dry, just condition it instead. This is known as “co-washing” or “no-pooing.” It is ideal for curly and straight hair types. When co-washing, select a cleansing conditioner specifically formulated for no-pooing. Prevent frizz. After you wash and condition your hair, gently pat the hair with a towel to stop the dripping. Microfiber towels work best, but an old t-shirt will do if you don't have a microfiber towel nearby. Never rub a towel against your hair, this will result in frizz and damage. Apply a leave-in-conditioner. Squeeze the leave-in-conditioner into your hand and coat your hair in a nourishing and moisturizing product. This will help to seal the moisture into your hair and leave it feeling soft. Leave-in-conditioners help to detangle your hair, while allowing you to manage frizz or flyaways. Look for products with natural moisturizers, like avocado oil and shea butter. Skip this step if your hair is very fine or excessively oily. Deep condition your hair. Applying a deep conditioner will improve the look and feel of dry or damaged hair. Before stepping out of the shower, rinse your hair with hot water. Squeeze out excess water. Apply the product to your damp hair. Start at the ends of your hair and work your way up the shaft. Avoid applying the product to your scalp. When your hair is saturated, cover your head with a plastic cap. Activate the product with a heated plastic cap, a blow-dryer set on low, or a hood dryer set on low. Apply heat for 10 to 30 minutes. Remove the cap and rinse your hair in cold water to close the cuticles. You may deep condition your hair anywhere from twice a week to two times a month. There are two types of deep conditioning treatments, a moisturizing treatment and a protein-based treatment. Always search for a product with a high pH, which will help open your cuticles. Detangle your hair. Starting at the nape of the neck and working your way toward the forehead, part your hair using the end of a "rat-tail" comb or your fingers. Separate your hair into 2 inches (5.1 cm) by 2 inches (5.1 cm) square sections. Gently comb each section to detangle it, starting at the ends and gradually working your way up to the roots. Apply a very small amount of your favorite hair oil to each section as you comb it. Be careful--when hair is damp, it is very fragile. If needed, use a spray bottle filled with water to re-wet hair, as dry hair is more difficult to manage and detangle. Dry your hair. When drying your hair, choose from one of three methods. If you have natural hair, hair that is not relaxed, and do not intend to straighten your hair, air-drying is the ideal method. If you have relaxed hair, dry your hair with a soft bonnet or hood dryer--air-drying will leave your hair shapeless and without a healthy sheen. Blow drying your natural hair will leave your locks looking smooth and shiny. Before subjecting your hair to the heat of your blow dryer, always apply a heat protectant. Straighten your hair. After bonnet drying or blow drying your hair, straighten your hair with a flat iron. All types of hair maybe straightened--from wavy to kinky. You can even use a flat iron to add sheen to relaxed hair! Apply a heat protectant spray that moisturizes your hair. Starting from the back of hair and working forward, gently part the hair into 1 or 2 inch (2.5 or 5.1 cm) thick parts. Use the straightener on each section. Move the wand in smooth, quick motions. Spritz shine spray on your straightened hair to finish the process. Use a high-quality ceramic flat iron. Make sure you use a tool that lists its temperature--this will allow you to monitor and control the heat. When using a straightener on relaxed or color treated hair, heat the wand to a temperature between 280°F to 320°F. When straightening wavy, curly, and kinky hair, set the flat iron to a temperature between 300°F to 350°F. Prep your hair for the treatment. Three to 5 days before using a relaxer, clarify your hair. Shampoo your hair to get rid of products built up on your scalp. You may use a shampoo with sulfates, which will leave the hair extremely dry, or a shampoo without sulfates. Follow the shampoo with a rinse-out-conditioner and a protein based deep conditioning treatment. For hair that has minimal breakage, use a light protein based treatment. A reconstructive hair mask is a great option. For hair with moderate breakage, apply a product that contains a lot of protein--look for keratin and amino acids on the ingredients list. Base your scalp. Divide your hair into four equal sections, parting your hair in the center and then from ear to ear. Keep each section separate with four hair clips. Put on rubber gloves. Part one of the sections into thin sub-sections. Place the nozzle of the scalp basing gel bottle directly on your scalp. Apply thin strips of the product to each little part. Continue until you have completed all of the sections. Trace the tip of the base gel nozzle around your hairline, applying thin strips of gel. Don't forget to cover the nape of your neck and behind your ears! Squeeze some of the gel into your gloved hand. Massage the product into each section. Base helps protect your scalp from chemical burns and irritation. Apply the relaxer. Place a towel around your shoulders. Beginning with one of the back sections, divide the hair into 1 inch (2.5 cm) horizontal sub-sections. Put on rubber gloves. Dip the applicator brush into the relaxer. Start at the scalp and coat each side of the 1 inch (2.5 cm) sub-sections with the product. Do not apply the product past the line of demarcation--the point at which new growth meets previously relaxed hair. Repeat until each section is complete. Apply the product quickly--do not spend more than 5 minutes per section. Massage in the product. With your gloved hands. comb through the hair coated in the product with your fingers--do not pass the line of demarcation. Comb and smooth the product into your hair until the line of demarcation vanishes. This may take up to 10 minutes. Rinse your hair with warm water. This should remove the majority of the chemical product. Apply the neutralizing shampoo and conditioner supplied in your kit. Rinse out the neutralizer and repeat. Remove the excess water from your hair with a fresh towel. Deep condition your hair, letting the product soak in for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse your hair and apply a leave-in-conditioner. Prep your hair for the treatment. One to two weeks before dying your hair, apply a protein-based treatment. Do not wash your hair the day before or the day of your treatment. This will result in the removal of your natural hair oils. Your hair will be left dry and prone to damage. For hair that has minimal breakage, use a light protein based treatment. A reconstructive hair mask is a great option. For hair with moderate breakage, apply a product that contains a lot of protein--look for keratin and amino acids on the ingredients list. Choose the right product for you. There are five types of hair dyes to choose from. If you are looking for short-term color, try a color rinse or a temporary coloring product. Semi-permanent coloring products are a great chemical free option--the color will last longer than a color rinse or a temporary coloring product. Demi-permanent products have a small amount of peroxide, which sustains the color through 24 washes. Permanent hair dyes contain ammonia and peroxide. The strong chemicals allow the color to last for a long time! Dye your hair. You may either have a professional color your hair at the salon or you may do it yourself at home. Either way, always follow the instructions! Dreadlock your hair. Dreadlocks are fashionable and work well for both men and women. There are several different types of dreadlocks to choose from including finger twists and freeform dreadlocks. Finger twists are achieved by sectioning the hair into equal 1 inch (2.5 cm) to 2 inches (5.1 cm) parts, twisting each section with beeswax or gel on your fingertips, and clipping sections together to prevent unraveling. Freeform dreadlocks are created through neglect--do not wash, moisturize, or comb your hair for 2 to 3 weeks to allow your hair to lock on its own. When caring for dreads, shampoo and condition your hair every three weeks using products designed for dreadlocks. To combat the growth of bacteria between washings, wipe dreads and scalp with an astringent-soaked cotton ball or pad. Moisturize locks using natural oils or oil-based products. Wrap your locks in a satin cloth while you sleep to maintain moisture. Short dreads are easier to maintain than long dreads. Don a well-coiffed afro for a natural look! Because afros are subject to dryness and damage, shampoo and condition your hair once a week with moisturizing products. Once your hair has dried, comb it with a wide-toothed comb, pick, or use a brush with natural bristles. Gently comb your afro into tufts--one in the front, two on each side, one on top, and a few in the back. Combing and brushing will help spread the natural oils secreted by your scalp through your hair. If needed, apply oil to your hair. Add pretty and decorative combs, hair clips, and artificial flowers to accentuate your style. Try a weave or extensions. When getting a weave or extensions, artificial hair is added to natural hair to improve natural hair's appearance and combat hair loss in certain areas. While you should always have a professional put in a weave, you and your friends can experiment with putting extensions in each other's hair. There are several different techniques to choose from: For a natural look, put in the extensions strand by strand. This time-consuming method requires between 50 to 100 strands. Extensions may be attached using bonding, clamping, shrink tubing, or micro tubing. Weft extensions are long tracks of hair. The hair is attached together at the top and freely hanging at the ends. They may be attached by several different methods including micro rings or glue. They may also be sewn into your hair. Taped weft extensions are newer. At the top of the extension, a piece of double-sided polyurethane tape holds the hair together. To attach it, one side of the tape is placed on the scalp. The extensions and your hair are then pulled up and another taped weft is placed underneath. If you are looking for a temporary change, try clip-on extensions. Simply clip the extension in place and unclip them when your day is done. Try a box braid. If you are transitioning from processed to natural hair, try a box braid as it allows natural hair to grow and is easy to maintain. After washing and detangling hair, part your hair 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the nape of your neck. Clip the hair above the part up and out of the way. Divide the hair below the part into 1 inch (2.5 cm) square sections. Braid each section from the roots to the end. Secure the ends with a snap-free rubber band or a clip. Continue parting your hair into 1 inch (2.5 cm) sections until all of your hair is braided. Rod sets and Bantu knots are also great options to consider if you are transitioning to natural hair. Talk to your stylist if you need help achieving either style. Cornrow your hair. Cornrows are a great choice for men or women. Detangle your hair. Determine how large you would like your cornrows and divide your hair into even sections accordingly. Small sections will result in smaller cornrows. Choose a section, divide it into 3 parts, and begin braiding it at your hairline. As you proceed towards the end of your hair, gradually add more hair to each part. This will attach the braid to your scalp. After adding all remaining hair to the 3 parts, continue to braid the hair as normal. Secure the ends with a snap-free rubber band or a clip. Repeat this process until each section is complete. Try a twist. Depending on the texture of the hair and the amount of time you have, you can twist your hair. Clip or pin the ends of your locks while wet; dry hair under a hood dryer or leave overnight. Take your twists out to create small, spiral curls. Some twists will hold for about two weeks. Twists can also be left in and worn out. However, do not leave twists in the hair for more than two weeks or twists may become dreadlocks. Try a close shave or total shave. The close or total shave is a great hairstyle for men and women. It can be both laid-back and sophisticated. It is extremely low maintenance too! If your hair is very damaged or over-processed, start fresh with a cleanly shaven head. For a close shave, use a pair of electric clippers with a guard. Determine your desired length, select the appropriate guard, and evenly shave the excess hair from your head. When shaving your head completely, use an electric clippers without a guard or a razor to remove your hair. Try heated curlers. Heated curlers are an excellent way to style your hair. They come in a variety of sizes and lengths and can be purchased at your local beauty supply store. Heated curlers take about 20 minutes to use. Put them in your hair before starting the day. Part the hair using the tail of a rat-tail comb, and apply the curler in a pattern that is pleasing to you. For longer hair, you can put the curlers around the edges of the hair only, or use them to create bangs. For shorter hair, it is best to use the curlers throughout the entire hair. Place curlers in straight lines from back to front. Once the curlers cool, remove them, and use a pick to gently move the hair into a pleasing style. Experiment with heated curlers until you find the best and most pleasing look.	Get the right hair products. Wash your hair. Prevent frizz. Apply a leave-in-conditioner. Deep condition your hair. Detangle your hair. Dry your hair. Straighten your hair. Prep your hair for the treatment. Base your scalp. Apply the relaxer. Massage in the product. Rinse your hair with warm water. Prep your hair for the treatment. Choose the right product for you. Dye your hair. Dreadlock your hair. Don a well-coiffed afro for a natural look! Try a weave or extensions. Try a box braid. Cornrow your hair. Try a twist. Try a close shave or total shave. Try heated curlers.
https://www.wikihow.com/Animate	How to Animate	If you want to animate a drawing by making a flipbook, draw a small picture on the first page of a pad of paper. On the second sheet, draw the same image, but slightly different, as though the picture has moved. Continue drawing the picture, moving it a little each time. For instance, if you draw a ball, draw it so it goes down like it's falling, then back up like it has bounced. Flip through the pages rapidly to see the image in motion!	Plan out the story you want to animate. For simple animations, such as a flipbook, you can probably plan everything in your head, but for more complex work, you need to create a storyboard. A storyboard resembles an oversized comic strip, combining words and pictures to summarize the overall story or a given part of it. If your animation will use characters with complicated appearances, you'll also need to prepare model sheets showing how they appear in various poses and full-length. Decide what parts of your story need to be animated and what parts can remain static. It usually isn't necessary, or cost-effective, to have every object in the story move in order to tell the story effectively. This is called limited animation. For a cartoon depicting Superman flying, you may want to show only the Man of Steel's cape flapping and clouds whizzing from the foreground into the background on an otherwise static sky. For an animated logo, you may want to have only the company name spin to call attention to it, and then for only a fixed number of times, so that people can read the name clearly. Limited animation in cartoons has the disadvantage of not looking particularly lifelike. For cartoons targeted to young children, this is not as much of a concern as in animated works intended for an older audience. Determine what parts of the animation you can do repetitively. Certain actions can be broken down into sequential renderings that can be re-used multiple times in an animation sequence. Such a sequence is called a loop. Actions that can be looped include the following: Ball bouncing. Walking/running. Mouth movement (talking). Jumping rope. Wing/cape flapping. You can find tutorials for some of these actions on the Angry Animator website at http://www.angryanimator.com/word/tutorials/. Get a number of sheets of paper you can flip through. A flipbook consists of a number of sheets of paper, usually bound at one edge, that creates the illusion of motion when you grasp the opposite edge with your thumb and flip through the pages. The more sheets of paper in the flipbook, the more realistic the motion appears to be. (A live-action motion picture uses 24 frames/images for each second, while most animated cartoons use 12.) You can make the actual book one of several ways: Staple or bind sheets of typing or construction paper together. Use a notepad. Use a pad of sticky notes. Create the individual images. You can make the images in your flipbook animation one of several ways: Draw them by hand. If you do this, start with simple images (stick figures) and backgrounds and gradually tackle more complex drawings. You'll need to take care that the backgrounds are consistent from page to page to avoid a jittery appearance when you flip the pages. Photographs. You can take a number of digital photos, then print them out on sheets of paper and bind them together, or use a software application to create a digital flipbook. It's easiest to do this if your camera has a burst picture mode that lets you take a number of pictures as you hold down the button. Digital video. Some newlywed couples choose to create coffee-table flipbooks of their wedding, using a portion of the video shot during their wedding. Extracting individual video frames requires using a computer and video editing software, and many couples choose to upload their videos to online companies such as FlipClips.com. Assemble the images together. If you've been hand-drawing the images in an already-bound notepad, the assembly is done for you. Otherwise, arrange the images with the first image at the bottom of the stack and the last image at the top and bind the sheets together. You may want to experiment with leaving out or rearranging a few of the images to make the animation appear jerkier or change the animation pattern before you bind the book together. Flip through the pages. Bend the pages upward with your thumb and release them at an even speed. You should see a moving image. Pen-and-ink animators use a similar technique with preliminary drawings before coloring and inking them. They lay them one on top of each other, first to last, then hold down one of the edges as they flip through the drawings. Prepare the storyboard. Most animation projects created through pen-and-ink animation require a large team of artists to produce. This requires creating a storyboard to guide the animators, as well as to communicate the proposed story to producers before the actual drawing work begins. Record a preliminary soundtrack. Because it's easier to coordinate an animated sequence to a soundtrack than a soundtrack to an animated sequence, you need to record a preliminary, or “scratch” soundtrack consisting of these items: Character voices Vocals to any songs A temporary musical track. The final track, along with any sound effects, are added in post-production. Animated cartoons before and into the 1930s did the animation first, then the sound. The Fleischer Studios did so in their earliest Popeye cartoons, which required the voice actors to ad-lib in between scripted places in the dialogue. This accounts for Popeye's humorous mutterings in cartoons such as “Choose Your Weppins.” Make a preliminary story reel. This reel, or animatic, synchronizes the soundtrack with the storyboard to find and fix timing errors in either the soundtrack or the script. Advertising agencies make use of animatics as well as photomatics, a series of digital photographs sequenced together to make a crude animation. These are usually created with stock photos to keep the cost down. Create model sheets for major characters and important props. These sheets show the characters and items from a number of angles, as well as the style in which the characters are to be drawn. Some characters and items may be modeled in three dimensions using props called maquettes (small scale models). Reference sheets are also created for the backgrounds needed for where the action takes place. Refine the timing. Go over the animatic to see what poses, lip movements, and other actions will be necessary for each frame of the story. Write these poses in a table called an exposure sheet (X-sheet). If the animation is primarily set to music, such as Fantasia , you can also create a bar sheet to coordinate the animation to the notes of the musical score. For some productions, the bar sheet can substitute for the X-sheet. Lay out the story scenes. Animated cartoons are laid out similar to the way a cinematographer blocks out scenes in a live-action movie. For large productions, groups of artists devise the background appearance in terms of camera angles and paths, lighting, and shading, while other artists develop the necessary poses for each character in a given scene. For smaller productions, the director may make all these determinations. Create a second animatic. This animatic is composed of the storyboard and layout drawings, with the soundtrack. When the director approves it, the actual animation begins. Draw the frames. In traditional animation, each frame is drawn in pencil on transparent paper perforated on the edges to fit into the pegs on a physical frame called a peg bar, which in turn is attached to either a desk or a light table. The peg bar keeps the paper from slipping so that each item in the scene being rendered appears where it is supposed to. Usually only the key points and actions are rendered first. A pencil test is made, using photos or scans of the drawings synchronized with the soundtrack to make sure the details are correct. Only then are the details added, after which they, too, are pencil-tested. Once everything has been so tested, it is sent to another animator, who redraws it to give it a more consistent look. In large productions, a team of animators may be assigned to each character, with the lead animator rendering the key points and actions and assistants rendering the details. When characters drawn by separate teams interact, the lead animators for each character work out which character is the primary character for that scene, and that character is rendered first, with the second character drawn to react to the first character's actions. A revised animatic is created during each phase of drawing, roughly equivalent to the daily “rushes” of live-action movies. Sometimes, usually when working with realistically drawn human characters, the frame drawings are traced over stills of actors and scenery on film. This process, developed in 1915 by Max Fleischer, is called rotoscoping. Paint the backgrounds. As the frames are being drawn, the background drawings are turned into “sets” for photographing the character drawings against. Today usually done digitally, painting can be done traditionally with one of several media: Gouache (a form of watercolor with thicker pigment particles) Acrylic paint Oil Watercolor Transfer the drawings onto cels. Short for “celluloid,” cels are thin, clear sheets of plastic. As with the drawing paper, their edges are perforated to fit onto the pegs of a peg bar. Images can be traced from the drawings with ink or photocopied onto the cel. The cel is then painted on the reverse side using the same kind of paint to paint the background. Only the image of the character on object on the cel is painted; the rest is left unpainted. A more sophisticated form of this process was developed for the movie The Black Cauldron. The drawings were photographed on high-contrast film. The negatives were developed onto cels covered with light-sensitive dye. The unexposed portion of the cel was chemically cleaned, and small details were inked by hand. Layer and photograph the cels. All the cells are placed on the peg bar; each cel carries a reference to indicate where it is placed on the stack. A sheet of glass is laid over the stack to flatten it, then it is photographed. The cels are then removed, and a new stack is created and photographed. The process is repeated until each scene is composed and photographed. Sometimes, instead of placing all the cels on a single stack, several stacks are created and the camera moves up or down through stacks. This kind of camera is called a multiplane camera and is used to add the illusion of depth. Overlays can be added over the background cel, over the character cels, or on top of all the cells to add additional depth and detail to the resulting image before it's photographed. Splice the photographed scenes together. The individual images are sequenced together as film frames, which, when run in sequence, produce the illusion of motion. Prepare the storyboard. As with other forms of animation, a storyboard provides a guide to the animators and a means to communicate to others how the story is to flow. Choose the kind of objects to be animated. As with pen-and-ink animation, stop-motion animation relies on creating numerous pictures of images to be displayed in rapid sequence to produce the illusion of motion. Stop-motion animation, however, normally uses three-dimensional objects, although this is not always the case. You can use any of the following for stop-motion animation: Paper cut-outs. You can cut or tear pieces of paper into parts of human and animal figures and lay them against a drawn background to produce a crude two-dimensional animation. Dolls or stuffed toys. Best known with Rankin-Bass' animated productions such as Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer or Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and Adult Swim's Robot Chicken , this form of stop-motion dates back to Albert Smith and Stuart Blackton's 1897 The Humpty Dumpty Circus. You'll have to create cutouts for the various lip patterns to attach to your stuffed animals if you want to have them move their lips when they speak, however. Clay figures. Will Vinton's Claymation animated California Raisins are the best-known modern examples of this technique, but the technique dates back to 1912's Modelling Extraordinary and was the method that made Art Clokey's Gumby a TV star in the 1950s. You may need to use armatures for some clay figures and pre-sculpted leg bases, as Marc Paul Chinoy did in his 1980 film I go Pogo. Models. Models can be either of real or fantasy creatures or vehicles. Ray Harryhausen used stop-motion animation for the fantastic creatures of such movies as Jason and the Argonauts and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. Industrial Light & Magic used stop-motion animation of vehicles to make the AT-ATs walk across the icy wastes of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. Record a preliminary soundtrack. As with pen-and-ink animation, you'll need to have a scratch soundtrack to synchronize the action to. You may need to create an exposure sheet, a bar sheet, or both. Synchronize the soundtrack and storyboard. As with pen-and-ink animation, you want to work out the timing between the soundtrack and the animation before you start moving objects around. If you plan to have speaking characters, you'll have to work out the correct mouth shapes for the dialog they're to utter. You may also find it necessary to create something similar to the photomatic described in the section about pen-and-ink animation. Lay out the story scenes. This part of stop-motion animation would also be similar to how a cinematographer blocks out a live-action movie, even more so than for pen-and-ink animation, since you're most likely working in three dimensions as in a live-action movie. As with live-action film, you'll more likely have to be concerned with actually lighting a scene as opposed to drawing in the effects of light and shadow as you would in pen-and-ink animation. Set up and photograph the components of the scene. You'll probably want to have your camera mounted on a tripod to keep it steady during the shooting sequence. If you have a timer that lets you take pictures automatically, you may want to use it if you can set it for long enough periods to let you adjust the components during the scene. Move the items that need to be moved and photograph the scene again. Repeat this until you have completed photographing the entire scene from start to finish. Animator Phil Tippett developed a way to have some of the moving of models controlled by computer to produce more realistic motions. Called “go motion,” this method was used in The Empire Strikes Back , as well as in Dragonslayer , RoboCop , and RoboCop II. Assemble the photographed images into a sequence. As with photographed cels in pen-and-ink animation, the individual shots from stop-motion animation become film frames that produce the illusion of motion when run one after the other. Decide whether you want to specialize in 2-D or 3-D animation. Computer animation makes doing either two-dimensional or three-dimensional animation easier than doing the work by hand. Three-dimensional animation requires learning additional skills besides animation. You'll need to learn how to light a scene, and also how to create the illusion of texture. Choose the right computer equipment. How much computer you need depends on whether you're doing 2-D or 3-D animation. For 2-D animation, a fast processor is helpful, but not absolutely necessary. Nonetheless, get a quad-core processor if you can afford it, and at least a dual-core processor if you're buying a used computer. For 3-D animation, however, you want the fastest processor you can afford because of all the rendering work you'll do. You'll also want to have a significant amount of memory to support that processor. You'll more than likely spend several thousand dollars on a new computer workstation. For either form of animation, you'll want as large a monitor as your planned work area can accommodate, and you may want to consider a two-monitor setup if you have several detail-oriented program windows open at once. Some monitors, such as the Cintiq, are designed specifically for animation. You should also consider using a graphics tablet , an input device connected to your computer with a surface you draw on with a stylus, such as the Intuos Pro, in place of a mouse. Starting out, you may want to use a cheaper stylus pen to trace over your pencil drawings to transfer images to your computer. Choose software appropriate to your skill level. Software is available for both 2-D and 3-D animation, with inexpensive options available for beginners and more sophisticated and more costly options you can migrate to as your budget and skill directs. For 2-D animation, you can produce animated images quickly using Adobe Flash, with the help of one of the many free tutorials available. When you're ready to learn to animate frame-by-frame, you can use a graphics program like Adobe Photoshop or a program that has a feature similar to Photoshop's Timeline feature. For 3-D animation, you can start with free programs like Blender and then move on to more sophisticated programs such as Cinema 4D or the industry standard, Autodesk Maya. Practice. Immerse yourself in the software you've chosen to use, learning how to create with it and then actually sitting down and creating animations of your own. Compile these animations into a demonstration reel that you can show to others, either one-on-one or online. When exploring your animation software package, take a look at “Part Three: Creating Pen-and-Ink Animation” if your software is for 2-D animation and “Part Four: Creating Stop-Motion Animation” to determine what portions of the process the software will automate for you and what portions you'll have to do outside of it. You can post videos to your own website, which should be registered either under your own name or that of your business. You can also post to a site such as YouTube or Vimeo. Vimeo allows you to change which video you're posting without changing the link to it, which can be helpful when you've created your latest masterpiece.	Plan out the story you want to animate. Decide what parts of your story need to be animated and what parts can remain static. Determine what parts of the animation you can do repetitively. You can find tutorials for some of these actions on the Angry Animator website at http://www.angryanimator.com/word/tutorials/. Get a number of sheets of paper you can flip through. Create the individual images. Assemble the images together. Flip through the pages. Prepare the storyboard. Record a preliminary soundtrack. Make a preliminary story reel. Create model sheets for major characters and important props. Refine the timing. Lay out the story scenes. Create a second animatic. Draw the frames. Paint the backgrounds. Transfer the drawings onto cels. Layer and photograph the cels. Splice the photographed scenes together. Prepare the storyboard. Choose the kind of objects to be animated. Record a preliminary soundtrack. Synchronize the soundtrack and storyboard. Lay out the story scenes. Set up and photograph the components of the scene. Move the items that need to be moved and photograph the scene again. Assemble the photographed images into a sequence. Decide whether you want to specialize in 2-D or 3-D animation. Choose the right computer equipment. Choose software appropriate to your skill level. Practice.
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Car-Title-Search	How to Do a Car Title Search	Doing a car title search is a simple way to find out the history of a used car. To do a search, you'll need the car's VIN number, which can be found on the driver's side door jamb, on the car's registration card, or on insurance documents. Once you have the VIN number, you can search for a vehicle's history online. Vehiclehistory.gov and Instavin are both good websites to find title information on used cars.	Know what the VIN looks like. A "Vehicle Identification Number" (VIN) is 17-digits and made up of numbers and letters; the number is unique to that specific car. Try looking for the number through the car's insurance information (vehicle insurance card or insurance policy). Almost every state in the US requires that a car be covered by insurance to drive it on the road. So, if somebody is currently driving it, they will most likely have insurance and a insurance card with the VIN. Check the car's registration card or sticker. These stickers usually go on the front windshield, on the driver's side (the left side in the US). Check the car itself. The number can be located in many places, so you may need to hunt around. Look in such places as on the driver's side below the windshield, driver's side door/door jamb, the front of the engine block and the front end of the frame. It may look like a sticker, a small metal plate or an engraving. Where the VIN number is placed depends on the year and manufacturer of car, so it might be good idea to do an internet search for the VIN using the manufacturer and year. Use a government based title search. In some countries, such as the United States, you can check a used vehicle's history through an online database. For example, in the USA, you can use the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, at http://www.vehiclehistory.gov/. Click on "Check Vehicle History" to find an approved provider. Some US States offer title search databases. Be aware that this search may have limitations if the car has a history outside of the jurisdiction in which you're searching. Choose a car title provider, carefully. These services aren't free, so it is important to find a site that you trust, since you're giving them your information. This is why it's recommended that you use a service that has been approved through a government body's site (a government site will have ".gov" somewhere in the URL). Follow through with the directions on the title search site. This will require you to have your VIN number ready (see step 1). Checking a provider's reputability through the Better Business Bureau is also recommended. Expect to receive a report. This report should give you information concerning whether the car has been rebuilt, salvaged, spent time in a junk yard, returned to the manufacturer or had its odometer changed to an incorrect mileage.	Know what the VIN looks like. Try looking for the number through the car's insurance information (vehicle insurance card or insurance policy). Check the car's registration card or sticker. Check the car itself. Use a government based title search. Choose a car title provider, carefully. Expect to receive a report.
https://www.wikihow.com/Know-When-You-Are-Ovulating	How to Know When You Are Ovulating	To track ovulation using your basal body temperature (BBT), you will need to take your temperature each morning as soon as you wake up. Write down your temperature on a monthly BBT chart every day for several months, then compare the charts to look for a pattern. You should see a spike in your BBT of a half of a degree lasting for about 3 days around the same time each month. This is when you are ovulating.	Buy a basal body temperature thermometer. Your basal body temperature is your lowest body temperature over a 24-hour period. In order to regularly take and monitor your basal body temperature (BBT), you'll need a basal body temperature thermometer. Basal body thermometers are available in most drugstores and come with a chart to help you track your BBT over several months. Take and record your basal body temperature every day for several months. To accurately track your BBT, you'll need to take your temperature at the same time each day: immediately when you wake, before you even get out of bed. Keep your BBT thermometer next to your bed. Try to wake up and take your temperature around the same time each morning. Basal body temperature can be taken either orally, rectally, or vaginally. Whichever way you choose to take your temperature, continue with that method to ensure a consistent reading each day. Rectal and vaginal readings may offer more accurate readings. Write down your temperature each morning on a piece of graph paper or a BBT chart, which is a pre-made graph on which you can plot your temperature. You'll need to track your BBT every day for several months in order to begin seeing a pattern. Look for a prolonged spike in temperature. Most women's BBT raises about half a degree for a minimum of 3 days during ovulation. Thus, you're tracking your BBT in order to identify when this increase in temperature occurs for you each month, as it will allow you to then anticipate when you'll ovulate. Try to anticipate ovulation. After several months of recording your BBT each morning, look over your charts to try to determine when you ovulate. Once you can identify a pattern of when your BBT rises each month, you'll be able to anticipate when you're ovulating by doing the following: Find when your regular spike in temperature occurs each month. Mark the two to three days prior to this temperature spike as likely ovulation days. This record can also be helpful to show your doctor if you suspect possible infertility issues. Understand the method’s limitations. Though your BBT can be a useful tool, it also has limitations you should be aware of. You may not be able to identify a pattern. If you can't identify a pattern after several months, you may need to use other methods in conjunction with monitoring your BBT. Consider adding one of the other methods discussed in this article to your routine. Basal body temperature can be disrupted by changes in your circadian rhythms, which can be brought on by working night shifts, over- or under-sleeping, traveling, or drinking alcohol. Basal body temperature can also be disrupted by periods of increased stress, including holidays or periods of illness, as well as by certain medications and gynecological conditions. Begin checking and testing your cervical mucus. Beginning immediately after you period ends, start checking your cervical mucus first thing in the morning. Wipe with a clean piece of toilet paper and examine any mucus you find by picking up a bit with your finger. Record the type and consistency of discharge or note the lack of discharge. Distinguish between the different kinds of cervical mucus. The female body produces several different types of cervical mucus each month as hormone levels fluctuate, and certain types of mucus are more conducive to pregnancy. Here's how vaginal discharge changes during the month: During menstruation, your body will discharge menstrual blood, which consists of the shed uterine lining and unfertilized egg. During three to five days following menstruation, most women will have no discharge. Though not impossible, it's highly unlikely that a woman will become pregnant during this stage. Following the dry period, you'll begin to notice cloudy cervical mucus. This kind of cervical mucus forms a plug over the cervical canal that prevents bacteria from entering the uterus, and it's also difficult for sperm to penetrate. A woman is unlikely to get pregnant during this period. Following the stickier discharge, you'll begin to see a white, beige, or yellow “creamy” discharge that's similar in consistency to cream or lotion. During this stage a woman is more fertile, though not at peak fertility. You'll then begin to notice thin, stretchy, watery mucus that resembles egg whites. It will be watery enough to be stretched several inches between your fingers. On or after the last day of this “egg white” cervical mucus stage, you'll begin to ovulate. This “egg white” cervical mucus is very fertile and provides nourishment to sperm, making this the woman's most fertile stage. Following this stage and ovulation, the discharge will return to its earlier cloudy, sticky consistency. Chart and record your cervical mucus over several months. It will take several months of monitoring before you'll be able to distinguish a regular pattern. Continue recording for several months. Examine your chart and try to distinguish a pattern. Right before the end of the “egg white” cervical mucus stage is when you're ovulating. Tracking cervical mucus along with basal body temperature (BBT) can help you more accurately pinpoint when you're ovulating by allowing you to corroborate the two records. Buy an Ovulation Predictor Kit (OPK), available at most drug stores. The OPK uses a urine test that measures luteinising hormone (LH) levels. The levels of LH in urine are usually low but will increase sharply for a 24-48 hour period just before ovulation. OPKs can help you pinpoint when you ovulate more precisely than tracking your basal body temperature or cervical mucus, particularly if you have an irregular cycle. Pay attention to your menstrual cycle. Ovulation typically occurs about half-way into your menstrual cycle (about 12-14 days before your period on average). You'll know you're a few days away from ovulation when you begin to see watery discharge resembling egg whites. When you begin to see this discharge, begin using the OPK. Because a kit will only contain a limited number of testing strips, it's important that you wait until this point before beginning. Otherwise, you may go through all of the strips before you actually begin ovulating. Begin testing your urine each day. Follow the instructions provided with the kit. You should be careful to test your urine at the same time each day. Avoid being either under- or over-hydrated, as it may artificially raise or lower LH levels. Know what your results mean. Many OPKs use a urine stick or strip to measure your LH levels and will indicate your results using colored lines. A line close to the color of the control line typically indicates elevated LH levels, meaning there's a good chance you're ovulating. A line lighter in color than the control line typically means you're not yet ovulating. If you use OPKs several times without any positive results, consider seeing an infertility specialist for consultation to rule out infertility issues. Know the limitations of using an OPK. Though the test is usually accurate, you may miss your ovulation window if you don't time the testing correctly. For that reason, OPKs are best used in conjunction with another ovulation-tracking method, like tracking basal body temperature or cervical mucus, so you have a better sense of when to begin taking the urine tests. Track your basal body temperature (BBT). The symptothermal method uses a combination of tracking physical changes and BBT to determine when you ovulate. Tracking your BBT is the “thermal” part of the symptothermal method, and it requires that you track your basal body temperature every day. Because your BBT will experience a sustained rise two to three days after ovulation, tracking your BBT can help you estimate when in your cycle you're ovulating. (See the method on Using Basal Body Temperature for more detailed instructions.) It will take several months of daily tracking to establish a pattern of ovulation. Track your bodily symptoms. This is the “sympto” part of the symptothermal method and involves closely tracking your physical symptoms to determine when you're ovulating. Each day, carefully track and record your cervical mucus (see the section on Checking Your Cervical Mucus for more) and any other menstrual symptoms you experience, like breast tenderness, cramping, mood swings, etc. Worksheets for tracking your symptoms are available online to print or you can devise your own. It will take several months of daily tracking to distinguish a pattern. Combine the data to determine ovulation. Use both the information from your BBT tracking and from your symptom tracking to verify when you ovulate. Ideally, the data will coincide, allowing you to determine when you're ovulating. If the data conflict, continue your daily tracking of each until a coinciding pattern appears. Know the limitations of the method. This method is best used for fertility awareness, and does have certain limitations. Some couples use this method for natural contraception by avoiding sex during the woman's fertile period (leading up to and during ovulation). Using this method for contraception, however, isn't generally recommended, as it requires very careful, meticulous, and consistent record-keeping. Those who use this method for birth control still experience about a 10% chance of unplanned pregnancy. This method can also be problematic if you're experiencing periods of high stress, travel, illness, or sleep disturbance, which will alter your body's basal temperature, as will working nights or drinking alcohol. Learn your period cycle. This method uses the calendar to count days between cycles and anticipate when your fertile days will be. Most women with regular periods have a 26-32 day cycle, though your cycle could be as short as 23 days, or as long as 35 days. A wide range of possible cycle-lengths are still normal. The first day is the beginning of one period; the last day is the beginning of the next period. Remember, though, that your period may vary slightly from month to month. You could be on a 28-day cycle for one or two months, and then shift slightly the next month. This is also normal. Chart your cycle for at least 8 cycles. Using a regular calendar, circle the first day of each cycle (the first day of your period). Count the number of days between each cycle (include the first day when you count). Keep a running total of the number of days in each cycle. If you find that all of your cycles are shorter than 27 days, don't use this method as it will give inaccurate results. Predict your first fertile day. Find the shortest cycle among all those you've tracked, and subtract 18 from that number of days. Write down the resulting number. Then locate day one of your current cycle on the calendar. Starting at day one of your current cycle, use the number you wrote down to count forward that number of days. Mark the resulting day with an X. The day you've marked with an X is your first fertile day (not your ovulation day). Predict your last fertile day. Find the longest cycle among all those you've tracked, and subtract 11 from that number of days. Write down the resulting number. Locate day one of your current cycle on the calendar. Starting at day one of your current cycle, use the number you wrote down to count forward that number of days. Mark the resulting day with an X. The day you marked with an X is your last fertile day and should be your day of ovulation. Know the limits of the method. This method requires careful and consistent record-keeping and can thus be prone to human error. Because your monthly cycles may shift, it's difficult to precisely time your ovulation with this method. This method is best used in conjunction with other ovulation-tracking methods for a more accurate result. This method will be quite difficult to use accurately if you experience irregular periods. This method can also be problematic if you're experiencing periods of high stress, travel, illness, or sleep disturbance, which will alter your body's basal temperature, as will working nights or drinking alcohol. Using this method for contraception requires very careful, meticulous, and consistent record-keeping in order to be successful. And even so, those who use this method for birth control still experience a 18% or higher chance of unplanned pregnancy. Thus, this method generally isn't recommended as a form of birth control.	Buy a basal body temperature thermometer. Take and record your basal body temperature every day for several months. Look for a prolonged spike in temperature. Try to anticipate ovulation. Understand the method’s limitations. Begin checking and testing your cervical mucus. Distinguish between the different kinds of cervical mucus. Chart and record your cervical mucus over several months. Buy an Ovulation Predictor Kit (OPK), available at most drug stores. Pay attention to your menstrual cycle. Begin testing your urine each day. Know what your results mean. Know the limitations of using an OPK. Track your basal body temperature (BBT). Track your bodily symptoms. Combine the data to determine ovulation. Know the limitations of the method. Learn your period cycle. Chart your cycle for at least 8 cycles. Predict your first fertile day. Predict your last fertile day. Know the limits of the method.
https://www.wikihow.com/Look-Natural-and-Gorgeous-for-School	How to Look Natural and Gorgeous for School	To look natural and gorgeous for school, make sure you care for your hair, skin, and eyes by using shampoo, conditioner, cleanser, and moisturizer regularly. Then, even if your school doesn't allow makeup, you can use tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone. You can also apply a moisturizing lip balm, or even a nude lipstick, to give your lips a naturally fuller look. Finally, if you don't have a dress code, choose a casual outfit and a few of your favorite accessories, and you're ready to go!	Fix your hair. Shampoo and conditioner hair every other day or every three days, depending on your hair type and length. Use conditioner to soften the hair after shampoo. Get highlights and see your hair stylist about what sort of cut will look good on you. Layers are cute for straight hair, and for frizzy curly hair, long is better with a de-frizzing gel or spray. Brush your hair every morning, unless you have coarse hair. Blow drying too much can cause your hair to dry up, so avoid doing this most days. Take care of your skin. Wash your skin every day and night. Don't pile on thick foundation; let the skin breathe. Use a cleanser and moisturizer twice a day without fail, plus a sunscreen of at least SPF 10 to protect your face. Choose an oil-free moisturizer, to avoid minor infections and clogged pores. Take care of your eyes. When you wake up in the morning, maybe your eyes are puffy, lashes are stubby and generally your peepers look awful. Fill a sink half-full with a combination of cold water and ice cubes, then press a soaked towel to your eyes and face for at least 10 seconds each. Apply some makeup. Here you have a choice, even if your school doesn't allow makeup. A tinted moisturizer, to even your skin tone, conceal flaws and save time (foundation and moisturizer in one) - or some mineral powder with concealer on top will work for both a non-makeup school and one that allows it. Dust a translucent powder on top to minimize shine. Or, you could always use a clear smoothing primer, to minimize sallowness, create a smooth canvas and an alternative to moisturizer. Use blush. For pretty, flushed cheeks, choose a blush that is similar to the color of your cheeks when you actually blush and, using a brush, dust it on the tops of the apples of your cheeks, then blend. Use a moisturizing lip balm. Putting on chapstick before going to sleep with help keep that moist feeling when you wake up. Lip gloss is always an eye catcher. Make sure you wash off yesterday's lip products before putting on a new coat. Lip stainer can stain your lips a color you don't like, and it takes a lot of time to wipe that stuff off. No harsh reds or deep purples. Light pinks are okay, but the recommended choice would be a nice, nourishing chapstick. Fix your eyes. Line your upper eyelids in black, brown or smoke-gray eyeliner, and lower eyelids in white eyeliner. Curl your eyelashes and put on one or two coats of a good, non-clumpy mascara. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Apply-Goth-Makeup-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Apply-Goth-Makeup-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Apply-Goth-Makeup-Step-13.jpg\/aid456475-v4-728px-Apply-Goth-Makeup-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Get an eyeshadow in smoldering gold. Dip your pinkie in it and dab it at the corner of your eyes, then across the bottom of your lids. Use a concealer to cover up your dark circles. Go a little natural and light with the eyeshadow. Fake eyelashes are not a good idea. Put on a crisp deodorant in a citrus or mint scent. Use a sweet or citrus cream, moisturize your entire body (but not your face). Perfume is another good way to keep a fresh smell lingering on you. Good smelling hair products work well too, if it doesn't damage your hair. Pick a cute outfit that is casual. For example, an oversized sweater, ripped skinny jeans and high tops. Or, for a more preppy look , a skin tight cherry that is not too long, some cute bracelets, and extra-high sandals. You don't need to wear designer clothes to feel good, just an eye for what looks best on you. If you have a uniform, make sure the skirt is short, the shirt is a little loose, the tie/bowtie is loose and long and you have at least one bright, cool accessory and preferably two. Sweet Bohemian outfits are the cutest to go with your natural look, like fringed skirts, silky shirts, suede fringed bags, earth tones combined with hot pinks and lime greens, and flower-power jewelry. Use accessories. They are the key matter in looking good with dress code rules. Exercise to keep your sweet look, and don't eat too unhealthily. Get to know yourself as a person. What are some of your positive traits; flirty, nice, supportive, thoughtful, sensitive, outgoing, funny? Make the most of your best traits and talents. Don't be bratty or mean. Be as nice as you can, and don't take life too seriously. Remember, you only live once! Get enough sleep to make sure you are always happy. All the make up in the world and a cute outfit can't hide a cranky face. Embrace your future and be genuine. People are considered natural and gorgeous if they are able to carry an interesting conversation and are knowledgeable. Care about other people; this isn't all about you.	Fix your hair. Brush your hair every morning, unless you have coarse hair. Take care of your skin. Take care of your eyes. Apply some makeup. Use blush. Use a moisturizing lip balm. Fix your eyes. Put on a crisp deodorant in a citrus or mint scent. Pick a cute outfit that is casual. Use accessories. Exercise to keep your sweet look, and don't eat too unhealthily. Get to know yourself as a person. Don't be bratty or mean. Get enough sleep to make sure you are always happy. Embrace your future and be genuine.
https://www.wikihow.com/Detect-a-Water-Leak-Under-Concrete	How to Detect a Water Leak Under Concrete	To detect a slab leak, first look for common signs of damage like a spike in your water bill, pooling water, or cracks in your foundation. To test if you have a leaky pipe, turn off any faucets and water-based appliances inside your house. Then, locate and turn off the main water shut-off valve. Look for your house's water meter and remove the lid. If the meter's sweep hand, leak indicator, or odometer are still moving, you're probably dealing with a worn or damaged pipe.	Watch out for a major water bill spike. In most cases, the first indication that your underground pipes are leaking will come from your water or sewer bill. If you see a massive price spike from one month to the next, or if your bill increases each month despite your water usage staying the same, you may be dealing with a leaky pipe. Check for leaky appliances. Some water bill spikes are caused by leaky appliances, especially toilets, so check them first. To check for a toilet leak, add some food coloring to the tank and let it sit for 10 minutes. If the coloring moved to the bowl, you have a toilet leak. For a faucet or water-based appliance, look for pooling or dripping water around the appliance itself or the connected pipes. Look for pools of water, damp carpet, or warped wood floors. Slab leaks create water build-ups underneath your concrete foundation. To escape, this water may pool on top of your floors, yard, or the concrete itself. If you have carpeted floors, search for areas that look darker or are unexpectedly damp. If you have wood panel floors, watch out for spots where the wood starts to warp. Sniff out mold or mildew patches. When water sits for a long time, it creates a perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. Though you most likely won't be able to see it, be aware of areas in your house that smell musty of funky for a long period of time. Mold and mildew are most likely to grow under carpet or, if the water leak spreads, behind drywall. Take note if your water fixtures become less powerful. High water pressure is what lets sinks, bathtubs, and showers provide you with plenty of water for your everyday needs. If they suddenly become less powerful, providing smaller or weaker streams, a leaky pipe may be to blame. To check if your fixtures are less powerful, turn off every water-based appliance in the house and test the stream from a single faucet. Check if your hot water heater is always on. If your hot water heater is running most, if not all, of the time, it may indicate that you have a hot water leak under your concrete. Because hot water is constantly escaping, your heater is working overtime to warm up the new water. If there are no other signs of a slab leak, look for indications that the water heater itself is broken, such as muddy water or loud cracks coming from the tank. Feel your floor for warm spots. Walk around with bare feet and feel for areas of the floor that are abnormally hot. These will be particularly pronounced on tile or wood floors. If you find one, mark the area with masking tape. If the spot stays hot for over 24 hours, it might be over a broken hot water pipe. If you own a cat, check any areas where it likes to sleep. Cats look for warm spots to curl up on, and their favorite spot may be directly over a hot water leak. Watch out for foundation cracks indicating a sewer leak. Though most slab leaks are from fresh water pipes, sewer pipes are occasionally to blame. When these pipes break, water escapes to the surface and causes the foundation to crack or warp. Common indications of sewer leaks include: Cracks in your floor, tiles, bricks, or moldings. Rotated, bowed, or separated walls. Uneven or warped floors. Doors or windows that won't close or have separated from the house. Turn off your faucets and other water appliances. So you can check your water meter for signs of a leak, turn off every faucet in your house and make sure common water appliances like your washing machine and dishwasher are not on. If anything remains on, cutting off your water may damage them or your water meter may give you a false positive reading. Find your main water shut-off valve. In cold regions, look for the valve inside your house in places like the basement or garage. In warmer areas, the valve may be located on a pipe on the side of the house or in the ground near your water meter. Cut off water to your house. If your water valve has only one visible valve wheel, turn it clockwise to shut off your water supply. If you water valve has two visible valve wheels, turn off the one closest to your house and leave the other wheel, connected to the street-side valve, alone. Try turning on a faucet far away from the water valve to make sure the water is cut off. If you have older pipes, your valve may leak or creak when turned off. Find your house’s water meter. Look for a water meter inside your yard or by the sidewalk surrounding your house. Typically, it will be inside an iron box or covered by a metal plate. Modern water meter boxes are typically labeled as such for clarity. If you can't find your water meter, call your local public facilities office for advice on where water meters in your area are typically located. Remove the water meter cover. Some water meter covers can be simply picked up by hand or pried off with a screwdriver, pair of pliers, or crowbar. Others may have a standard or pentagon nut holding them down, in which case you'll need a standard or pentagon wrench to remove them. If you haven't examined your meter for a while, watch out for cobwebs and bugs. For safety, wear thick working gloves when prying off the cover. Check the water meter for activity. Though water meters are all built differently, they will each have a method of tracking water usage. This may be in the form of a sweep hand (a clock-like hand covering the meter), a leak indicator (a small triangle, sailing wheel, or other object), or an odometer (a row of numbers). With your appliances off, see if your pipes are leaking by looking for: A sweep hand that, over the course of several minutes, moves dramatically. A leak indicator that won't stop turning. An odometer whose numbers continue to increase. Search online for local plumbers. Most slab leaks can only be fixed by breaking concrete, so look for general contractors that specialize in remedial plumbing. If possible, go with a plumber that lists slab leak detection or repair directly on their website, indicating that they have experience. Expect to pay around $65 per hour or a set price based on the specific job. Hourly contractors may be cheaper for small fixes, but they can cost significantly more if the plumber encounters unexpected problems. If you can't find good plumbers online, ask friends, family members, and neighbors for personal recommendations. Hire a plumber to detect slab leaks. Using specialty equipment, plumbers can confirm that you are actually dealing with a slab leak and will isolate the problem to a specific area. Though some plumbers may offer detection services for free, expect others to charge up to $400. Ask for a repair estimate. Once you confirm that the problem is a slab leak, ask your plumber for a repair estimate. The estimate will depend largely on your specific problem, but expect a standard repair to cost around $2000. To ensure that the price doesn't change, make sure you get the estimate in writing. Compare the estimate with other offers. Before committing to a plumber, call other plumbing companies and ask for repair estimates. Since you've already had the leak examined, simply relay the problem as it was described to you. Once you have multiple estimates, choose a plumber that seems reputable and offers their services at a reasonable price. Though the lowest offer may seem enticing, make sure it's from a plumber that has a legal operating license and good user reviews online. Pay to have your pipes repaired. Though pricey, pay for the slab leak repairs as soon as possible. Slab leaks can cause far more expensive problems down the road, and a little money now can save a lot going forward. Some homeowner's insurance policies cover the cost of essential pipe repairs.	Watch out for a major water bill spike. Check for leaky appliances. Look for pools of water, damp carpet, or warped wood floors. Sniff out mold or mildew patches. Take note if your water fixtures become less powerful. Check if your hot water heater is always on. Feel your floor for warm spots. Watch out for foundation cracks indicating a sewer leak. Turn off your faucets and other water appliances. Find your main water shut-off valve. Cut off water to your house. Find your house’s water meter. Remove the water meter cover. Check the water meter for activity. Search online for local plumbers. Hire a plumber to detect slab leaks. Ask for a repair estimate. Compare the estimate with other offers. Pay to have your pipes repaired.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Muesli	How to Make Muesli	To make muesli, start by mixing 4 cups of grains, such as rolled oats or wheat flakes, and 1 cup of your favorite chopped nuts in a large bowl. Then, stir in 1 cup of dried fruit, like dates, raisins, dehydrated berries, and dried mango. Be sure to store your muesli in an airtight container in a cupboard, where it can stay fresh for up to 2 months. When you're ready to have some of your muesli, serve it with some milk or yogurt in a bowl and enjoy!	Pour 4 cups (560g) of grains into a large bowl. Grains will make up the base of your muesli, so should be the first ingredient in a basic recipe. Start by putting 4 cups (560g) of your grain of choice in a large bowl or container. If you're using oats, make sure that you use rolled oats and not quick-cooking grains which will be highly processed. Any rolled grain will work great for a muesli base. Try rolled oats, barley, rye, spelt, or rice in whatever ratio you think tastes best! Muesli is made to be customized. Add 1 cup (120g) of chopped nuts to the grains. Nuts give your muesli a delicious crunch, as well as adding a boost of omega-3 fatty acids and protein to start the day. Add 1 cup (120g) of whatever kind of chopped nuts you prefer to the grains. Walnuts, almonds, pecans, Brazil nuts, macadamias, pistachios, cashews, peanuts, and hazelnuts are all great choices for muesli ingredients. Choose any combination that you like to add to your muesli. If you're allergic to nuts or just don't like them, try adding coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or any other type of seed you like for a similar flavor and crunch. Mix in 1 cup (150g) of dried fruit. Dried fruit adds some sweetness to your muesli, as well as adding some chewiness to offset the crunch of the nuts or seeds. Chop up your dried fruit or fruits of choice and add 1 cup (150g) to the grains and nuts. Dates, raisins, dehydrated berries, or even dried mango or papaya pieces all make great additions to muesli. Choose fruits that you like and try different combinations until you find the perfect recipe. Try to find dried fruits without added sugar. As none of the other ingredients are particularly sweet, the fruit should add enough sweetness without relying on more sugar. Only add dried fruit to your muesli recipe, as fresh fruit in it will soften your muesli and make it turn bad much more quickly. If you want to add fresh fruit, do so just before you eat it. Combine all of your ingredients. Use a wooden spoon or something similar to thoroughly combine all parts of your muesli. Try to mix it together well enough so that everything is evenly distributed, and every bite of muesli will have a little bit of everything. If you're making the muesli in a container, just put the lid on and shake it up until everything is combined. Store the muesli in an airtight container. As long as muesli stays dry, it can last up to 2 months in your cupboard. Transfer your muesli to an airtight glass jar or plastic container and keep it in a cool, dry place until it's time to dig in. Serve your muesli with milk or yogurt. There are plenty of different ways to eat muesli, but the most traditional is with milk or yogurt. Scoop ½ a cup of your muesli into a bowl and top it off with milk or yogurt. If you want to soften up the grains a little, leave your muesli to sit for 10 minutes to half an hour before eating. If you don't want to wait before eating breakfast in the morning, you can soak your muesli in milk overnight. Combine ½ a cup of muesli with ½ a cup of milk in a small lidded glass jar, and store in the fridge overnight. If it's too cold out for muesli with milk straight out of the refrigerator, try heating your muesli up in the microwave before serving and eat it like oatmeal. Play with the ingredients. The ratio of 4 cups of grains to 1 cup each of nuts and dried fruit will make a great muesli, but it might not be the perfect muesli for you. Try changing up the ratios and altering the ingredients until you find your perfect combination. If you've got a sweet tooth or like your muesli to be chewy, increase the amount of dried fruit you put into your muesli. Replace ½ a cup (60g) of nuts with an extra ½ cup (75g) of dried fruit for an extra fruity kick. If you'd prefer a little more crunch and don't need as much sweetness, add more nuts. Replace ½ a cup (75g) of dried fruit with the same amount of nuts for a super crunchy breakfast. Toast the grains and nuts together. Before adding the fruit, pour the grains and nuts into a dry frying pan and toast them over a medium heat. This will add a little extra crunch to the grains, as well as bring out the oils in the nuts and make them more flavorful. Don't add oil or any other liquid to the pan when toasting your grains and nuts. Toasting the nuts release their oils, so anything added will make your muesli taste a little greasy. You can also roast grains and nuts in a hot oven. Place a piece of parchment paper over a baking tray with sides and scatter the nuts and grains in a single layer over top. Cook for 10-12 minutes at 350 °F (177 °C), shaking the tray every few minutes to keep them from burning. Add some warming spices. If you want to add a little more flavor to your basic muesli, try mixing in 1 or 2 pinches of your favorite spices. A little bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, cloves or anything similar can add some delicious depth to your muesli recipes. As always, don't be afraid to experiment. Try mixing and matching different fruits, nuts, and grains with different combinations of spices. Store your muesli with a vanilla pod. If you like the flavor of vanilla, add it with a vanilla pod rather than adding moisture with vanilla essence. Keep 1 or 2 vanilla pods in the container you store your muesli in and the flavor will infuse with the muesli over time. Make sure to take the vanilla pod out of your bowl and put it back in the container if you scoop it out while serving your muesli. Try other whole spices to add different flavors to the muesli. Store a cinnamon stick, or a few whole cloves with your muesli to infuse different flavors. Combine the oats and dried fruit in a bowl. Pour 1/4 cup (35g) of rolled oats into a small mixing bowl. Add to it around 1 tablespoon (12.5g) of chopped dried apricots. Stir the mixture thoroughly to combine. Cover the oats with apple juice and soak overnight. Pour 6 tablespoons (89 ml) of apple juice over the oats and apricots. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or store in a lidded container overnight. This will soften the oats and the fruit, adding sweetness to the muesli from the apple juice. You can substitute dried apricots for any other dried fruit that you may prefer. Wash and grate the apple. Regardless of the recipe, Apple has always been a key component of Bircher muesli. Just before you want to eat your muesli, wash 1 dessert apple with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Grate the apple into coarse pieces, being careful not to grate the core or loosen any seeds. Combine the oats with the apple and a splash of milk. Take the soaked oats and dried apricots out of the refrigerator and mix with the grated apple. Combine with a splash of milk until the muesli reaches the consistency of a loose porridge. Serve the muesli with chopped almonds and a dollop of yogurt. Sprinkle the top of the Bircher muesli with a handful of roughly chopped almonds or any other nut of your choice. Add a dollop of yogurt and serve immediately.	Pour 4 cups (560g) of grains into a large bowl. Add 1 cup (120g) of chopped nuts to the grains. Mix in 1 cup (150g) of dried fruit. Combine all of your ingredients. Store the muesli in an airtight container. Serve your muesli with milk or yogurt. Play with the ingredients. Toast the grains and nuts together. Add some warming spices. Store your muesli with a vanilla pod. Combine the oats and dried fruit in a bowl. Cover the oats with apple juice and soak overnight. Wash and grate the apple. Combine the oats with the apple and a splash of milk. Serve the muesli with chopped almonds and a dollop of yogurt.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Puppets	How to Make Puppets	To quickly and easily make puppets, trace a character onto a piece of paper or cardstock. Color in the character, and if you're using a thin piece of paper, attach it to a thicker backing to make it sturdier. Then, place the character facedown, and position the end of a plastic straw in the middle of the paper. Attach the straw with a piece of tape or a dab of strong glue. You can add decorations, like sequins or googly eyes, to your puppet before you use it!	Choose a figure. Try to choose characters with an ambiguous identity or description, so that you can reuse them in other puppet shows. You can find figures anywhere, but the Internet has a wealth of options available at the touch of a button. Make the figure. On a piece of paper, trace out the figure to the desired size. You may like to reinforce the paper with card, or draw it directly on to card, so that the paper doesn't flap around during your performance. Think about the back side, too! Will your puppet be turning around during use? And if you do make a back side, does it need fins or a tail? If you'd like, consider using paper plates. If a circular shape would aid well to your project, consider using this sturdy, textured material. It works well for fish, crabs, clams, and other plump creatures. If you use two, it gives ultimate volume. Cut a slit to the center and reglue them together with a bit of overlap. Taking a section out forces the paper to bend into more of a shallow cone shape. Place the wide sides together to form the body of your animal. Color it in. Color is an important part of any puppet show. Make your characters bright and interesting, so that the audience's eye is pleased. Make the handle. Find a clear plastic straw and attach it to the back of the puppet with cello-tape or blue tack. Be sure that it is long enough that your hand is some distance from the actual puppet. You don't want your arm in the show! Alternatively, get some fishing wire and attach it to your puppet so you can hold it from the top. This, however, requires you to stand up while performing. Add any decorations. For eyes, use the googly kind (attach with glue). If you're making a Puffer Fish, like in the pictures, consider using straws cut down at an angle to about 2" (5 cm) and attached all over the body. Cut some small fins out of your paper or paper plate. Tada! Choose the sock. Try to find some that would come up to your knee, so that when you wear them as puppets it doesn't look as if half the puppet is your arm. Stay away from ones that have stains or holes. Choose colors that match your character's personality. Stripy socks make the character seem bright and happy, while plain black makes them look mysterious or criminal. If your sock is taking on an animal persona, use the color of the sock as the color of their body. Put the sock over your hand and arm. When you're wearing the puppet, poke some fabric down into the hollow between your thumb and index finger. This will make a mouth. Also hold your wrist perpendicular to your arm, so that the audience can tell where the head ends and the body begins. This is the quickest way to make a sock puppet. If you're looking to get a little more creative, take a gander at wikiHow's Make a Sock Puppet for a few more intricate varieties. Add the eyes. You can find a variety of types of eyes at your local arts and crafts store. Choose big 'googly' ones that will make your characters look slightly unreal. Be sure that they suit the character as well. Attach each one with a dab of glue. Pom pom eyes are also a cute addition. They add a bit more shape to the normal sock silhouette. They're also easier to rest glasses on! Add any additional features. A sock puppet can be the bare minimum or it can be dressed to the nines. Add a felt tongue, a clump of string for hair, a ribbon, a necktie, or whatever your sock character might wear. Trace your finger on a piece of paper. Leave 1/2" (1 cm or so) extra on all sides, stopping just below your second knuckle. This is the template for your finger puppet. Cut out your felt pieces. You'll need two of your template (front and back) plus any extra bits. Wings for your butterfly? A nose for your elephant? A beak for your chicken? Ears for your rabbit? Get as intricately detailed as possible. If your brain isn't firing on all pistons at the moment, look up a few generic cartoons for detailing inspiration. Sew on the additions. Before you get to sewing the base of the puppet, sew on all the small, finer details. While you have your thread out, sew on a grin with a backstitch. A whip stitch will probably be best for adding your eyes/nose/beak/wings/general details. If sewing isn't your forte, you may be able to get around most of it with hot glue. But take care -- glue and felt isn't always pretty, especially if too much glue is used. Place the top and bottom of the body on top of each other and sew together. Do a blanket stitch around the entire body; if you've added a piece that doesn't allow for this, switch to a running stitch. Now all you've got to do is put 'em on and get to creating. Unless you want to give your puppet 9 more friends, of course! Get a hold of a large styrofoam ball and start sculpting. Soft foam works, too, but styrofoam is easier to carve out. The tough part about this is that you have to sculpt a face. The easy part is that puppets come in all shapes and sizes and you can't really mess it up. The major points to cover are indentations for the eye sockets, a bulge for a nose, and removing the lower jaw (if you want it to talk). If you do want it to talk, leave a space for your hand to go into! Cover your puppet head with fleece. Start at the middle of the face and work your way out, hot gluing as you go along. Spray adhesive also works, but it's a bit harder to work with. Readjust and stretch as you glue, keeping the fleece tight against the styrofoam. Get deep into the indentations (like the eye sockets) and keep it secure, like skin would naturally be. You can either have the nose be part of same material as the head, stick it onto the styrofoam ball, or cover it in fleece and then add it to the face. One way is not better than any other. Add on the facial features. Bottle caps can be used for eyes, but so can beads, puff balls, or anything you can find wandering through your local craft supply store. As far as the lower jaw goes, if you removed it, cover it in fleece and hot glue just the very edges to the head. The styrofoam jaw should still be able to move -- just the fleece should be hot glued and attached. Depending on the size of your puppet, it could be donning a full-fledged wig or hat on its head. Neither of those available? Throw on a hoodie! Problem solved. Add felt eyebrows and ears, if desired. Every puppet is different, so if yours doesn't have something, it won't be cause for alarm. Give it some clothes. A naked puppet is, for some reason, sufficiently awkward. Grab something you never want to wear again and glue the top to the "neck" of your puppet (for this reason, you may want to employ a scarf or turtleneck). To give the puppet a body, simply stuff the shirt with newspaper or some type of foam or quilt batting. Stay away from short sleeves so you don't have to deal with making arms. Make a hand for your puppet. Since one is probably operating the face, make at least one hand movable to give your puppet even more life. All you need to do is trace your hand on a piece of felt, cut it out twice, and sew them together (inside out, to hide the seam). Leave just short of an inch (2 cm) around all sides of your hand to give yourself some wiggle room. To have a four-fingered puppet (including the thumb), just keep your index finger and ring finger together as you trace. Place your hand in it and through the sleeve of your puppet. Now your puppet talks and can gesture! Move over Achmed. Gather your materials. Get a paper bag, googly eyes, construction paper, wool, markers, and glue or tape. Glue the eyes onto the bag. If you don't have googly eyes, you can cut out eyes from the construction paper, making tiny black pupils and gluing them onto larger white circles. Regular glue will work just fine for this -- you don't need to use the stronger stuff. Glue the mouth onto the bag. Cut a little red mouth out of the construction paper and glue it in place. Glue the hair onto the bag. Now, either use strips of construction paper or wool onto the top of the paper bag. Wait for it to dry. Draw the nose. Use a black marker to draw a nose on the paper bag in between the eyes and the mouth. Play with your puppet. Once you've made face and everything is ready to go, you can play with your puppet! Make a stage. To make a basic stage, cover a table with a tablecloth that comes down to the floor. The table needs to be high enough that your children (or you) can easily kneel behind it without being seen. Design the background. Paint a mural onto a large piece of cardboard and hang it from the wall behind you. The mural can be a setting (park, beach, etc) or just the name of the show in large letters. But remember, a sign should be put on the front of the tablecloth announcing what the show is. If you're doing this, the name of the show is not necessary in the mural. Make a few props for your puppets to work with, too. In a couple of minutes, you can whip up a tree, a rock, some flowers, or whatever might be found in your puppet show setting. Put on your show. What's your opening music? Are you doing it improv style or will there be lines? Is there a moral to your story, or just for fun? If you're working with children, make sure each gets a turn at their favorite puppets -- each child will inevitably have one.	Choose a figure. Make the figure. If you'd like, consider using paper plates. Color it in. Make the handle. Add any decorations. Choose the sock. Put the sock over your hand and arm. Add the eyes. Add any additional features. Trace your finger on a piece of paper. Cut out your felt pieces. Sew on the additions. Place the top and bottom of the body on top of each other and sew together. Get a hold of a large styrofoam ball and start sculpting. Cover your puppet head with fleece. Add on the facial features. Give it some clothes. Make a hand for your puppet. Gather your materials. Glue the eyes onto the bag. Glue the mouth onto the bag. Glue the hair onto the bag. Draw the nose. Play with your puppet. Make a stage. Design the background. Put on your show.
https://www.wikihow.com/Develop-a-Better-Relationship-With-Your-Parents	How to Develop a Better Relationship With Your Parents	It can be tough if you have a negative relationship with your parents, but with some planning, you can start to improve your relationship. Even if you don't agree with their parenting style, try to be respectful and polite, which will help prevent them from getting defensive. If you have a disagreement with your parents, stay calm and consider whether it's something worth arguing about. If it really is, try to reason with your parents. Keep in mind that it's okay to have your own opinions, and you and your parents probably won't agree on everything. If your parent's input in your life is really hurting you, consider separating yourself emotionally from them. Focus less on seeking their approval since having some distance may actually help improve your relationship.	Act first. Don't wait for your parents to try to improve the relationship. If you want to improve your relationship with your parents, you should start right away and act first. Be appreciative. Consider all your parents have done for you; all the ways that they have helped you; all the ways they have influenced how you think. You may find yourself feeling grateful for your parents and more willing to improve the relationship or compromise, or be more forgiving when your parents annoy you. Let your parents know that you are appreciative for all they have done for you. It can hurt to feel taken for granted, even for parents. Show your appreciation with your actions. Get them a nice gift or, if you live with your parents, do some extra housework without being asked. They will likely be happy with you for this. Separate from your parents emotionally. This is not to say that you should not care for and love your parents. But, if you are less emotionally attached to your parents, you may be less invested in arguments or disagreements with them. This way you can walk away from a situation more easily and not let it damage the relationship. You can separate yourself emotionally from your parents in two primary ways. Focus less on seeking their approval. Be willing to define yourself and your self-worth through your own eyes. Acknowledge your past, then move on. Your relationship with your parents may have been rough before. Remember this and assess the role you have played in your relationship with your parents, but do not let it define your relationship going forward. Take their perspective. Often, people do not get along because they fail to consider others' perspectives. Once you can empathize with another's position and see the reasons behind it, you will likely be more willing to compromise and improve the relationship. Accept that your parents are different. They grew up in a different generation with different social norms and rules of conduct, with different technologies and ways of thinking, with parents who treated them certain ways, that was probably much different that the ways of parenting today. Think about the ways that their lives may have been different from your life, and how these different histories may be contributing to issues in the relationship. Try using this information when you talk about improving your relationship with them. Remind them that times change and ask them to think about their relationship with their own parents. See if they can recall any issues in their relationship with their parents that were due to these 'generational' differences. For example, if your relationship with your parents is rocky because they disapprove of you moving in with your significant other before marriage, try reminding them that in their generation people were even more conservative still, and that times change and it is in fact quite common to move in with a significant other without being married. Develop your own identity. It is OK and even healthy for you to think for yourself and to have your own opinion on matters. In gaining a new found sense of autonomy and separation from your parents, you may find that your relationship improves organically. Engage in self-discovery. Hold aside what everyone else thinks about you and how you should live your life, including your parents, and ask yourself some serious questions about yourself. Be sure to honestly answer questions such as "what feelings do I want to feel most?" or "what do I want to spend more of my time on?" or "what are my talents?" or "what kind of person am I?" Consider whether you are going along with your parents' opinion because you also believe it or because your automatic inclination is to think what they do about something (such as about your relationships, politics or even simple things like your favorite sports team, for example). Think of them as other adults, not parents. If you continue to see them as your parents, you may unthinkingly behave in a way that is child-like and promotes a relationship dynamic that you are trying to improve. For example, if you continue to expect them to support you financially, you may be leaving the door open for your parents to give you too much unwanted advice or guilt you into spending time with them. Figure out the underlying cause. Assess what in particular is troubling you about your relationship with your parents. There are several reasons you may want to improve your relationship. You may feel that you parents give too much unwanted advice, treat you like a kid, do not respect your opinions, guilt you into spending time with them, or disrespect your friends or spouse. Be sure to have a good sense of the particular aspect of your relationship that you want to improve. Be respectful. Even if you do not agree with their parenting style, values or principles, be courteous to your parents; in doing so you will be less likely to put them into a defensive parenting mode. There are a number of ways in which you can be respectful. Try using polite language (such as "sorry" or "would you mind if"), speaking modestly ("it may be" instead of "it definitely is"), and letting them finish speaking before you take your turn. Don't let things fester. If you have a fight with your parents, do everything you can to repair the relationship sooner rather than later. This will show that you care about the relationship. It will also mean you will have been fighting for less time total. Keep calm. Don't overreact when talking to your parents, you may end up saying things you regret, which will only damage your relationship further and make you seem immature. When you are interacting with your parents and you feel a wave of strong emotion coming on, re-assess the situation that led to your strong feelings by asking yourself some questions. For example, if you are in a disagreement with your parents about mowing the lawn you might ask: "In the grand scheme of things, how bad will it really be to mow the lawn?" Or, if you don't live with your parents but they are overly involved, asking you detailed questions about your job and giving unwanted advice, you might ask: "What is their motivation for wanting to be so involved? Is it that they care about me and are worried about my financial security?" Asking yourself questions like this may lead you to feel less upset and it may give you insight into how you should respond to your parents. In this case, you may try to improve your relationship by easing their worries about your financial future. If re-assessing your situation doesn't work to reduce how emotional you feel, try asking politely whether you can continue the discussion once you have cooled your jets. Explain that you are feeling really upset and don't want to accidently say something rude or regretful. Be positive. Smile at your parents. Stay positive and warm. Let them know with your body language that you are happy to see them and that you care about their well-being. This will set the tone for your communication and will help to improve the relationship. Without thinking, your parents may even mimic your positive emotions. This emotional mimicry will aid in setting a mood that will foster positive relationship change. Don't ask for their advice unless you really want it. Sometimes problems arise in relationships between parents and children, particularly at the teenage years and beyond, because parents can try to give advice in an overpowering way that infringes on your sense of autonomy. To get around this, try only asking for their advice when you are sure that you really want it. If you are just feeling lazy to think about things on your own, and so you ask your parents, you may be opening the door to frustration on your part. Be open and honest. One way to improve your relationship dynamic is to be more willing to talk to your parents about things that you may feel are uncomfortable. This will help to build trust in your relationship with your parents, which will improve your relationship with them. Keep in regular contact so your parents can get a better perspective on your life, what upsets you, and what makes you happy. If they do not know you that well, it will be difficult for them to try to improve the relationship. If you listen to your parents they will be more likely to listen to you, opening the door for you to try discussing improving the relationship. Establish boundaries and make rules. If you want to maintain a positive relationship with parents, but find that you always end up disagreeing, consider setting up some topics as off-limits. This may work better if you are older or no longer live with your parents. Also try creating rules that both you and your parents agree to abide by. Sit down with your parents and tell them you want to improve your relationship with them, but that in order to do so, you think it would be helpful if there were some rules. Ask that they make a list of the rules they would like implemented, and you do the same. If you are a teenager or child, rules can include not bringing up certain topics, giving you a chance to try things on your own, or letting you stay out later at night as long as you check in by text or call and can prove that you are being responsible. If you are an adult, rules can include asking your parents not to interfere with the way you are choosing to parent your own children, or asking your parents not to comment negatively about your significant other. Discuss the different rules, and narrow them down to a list that you all agree on. Check in occasionally to see whether you and your parents are still happy in following the rules that you have agreed on. Avoid unnecessary arguments. Sometimes arguments are unavoidable, but do your best to refrain from unnecessary squabbles. This may mean that you have to bite your tongue when one of your parents says something controversial. Determine whether the need to respond is really necessary. If it is, make the point clearly and modestly in order to avoid an overly emotional argument. Keep interactions mature. Be fair and logical about issues and demonstrate to your parents that you are mature, and they will likely reciprocate by acting mature themselves. Oftentimes if parents see you acting mature, they will treat you accordingly.	Act first. Be appreciative. Separate from your parents emotionally. Take their perspective. Develop your own identity. Think of them as other adults, not parents. Figure out the underlying cause. Be respectful. Don't let things fester. Keep calm. Be positive. Don't ask for their advice unless you really want it. Be open and honest. Establish boundaries and make rules. Avoid unnecessary arguments. Keep interactions mature.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Out-of-Doing-Homework	How to Get Out of Doing Homework	If you weren't able to finish your homework, there are a few good excuses you can use to keep your teacher off your back. You can blame technology and say your computer or printer broke. If you needed the internet for your homework, say your internet went off for a few hours. Pretending you forgot your homework isn't the best excuse, but it sounds better than admitting you didn't do it. Search through your bag and pretend to look for it, then tell your teacher you must have left it at home. To make it more convincing, see your teacher at the beginning of class and say you had a busy week and forgot to do the homework. You can even tell them you had a family issue. Teachers are unlikely to call you out for being sick, so try going to the nurse before class and telling them you feel sick and you can't go to class.	Get to know your teacher first. You have to find that teacher who is not too strict, maybe a little oblivious, and forgiving. Get on their good side at the beginning of the year so they're more likely to trust you when you come to them with excuses later. Laugh at your teacher's corny jokes and smile and try to be a good student for the most part. Notice how your teacher reacts when other students forget their homework to gauge how much you can get away with. Notice if your teacher collects homework or usually just walks around and glances at your worksheet to make sure you did it. Try to get an idea of what your teacher likes. If they have pictures of their cat everywhere, you may be able to use that to your advantage later by telling them your cat is very sick or had to be put down and you were too devastated to finish the assignment. Remember that your teacher probably got into teaching because they are passionate about their subject. Participate in class as much as possible: if they believe you love history, too, they're probably more likely to be sympathetic later. Find out how much homework counts toward your final grade. If homework only accounts for 20% of your grade and you ace all your tests, projects, and class participation, you might be able to get by without doing homework and still get a decent grade. Blame technology. Say your computer or internet wasn't working, or your printer broke. Be aware that this is a common and pretty flimsy excuse, so your teacher may not buy it. If your teacher expects you to email them your assignment, ask them the next day if they got your email. When they say they didn't, act confused and explain that you definitely emailed them and that you can't believe it didn't go through. They probably can't check to see if you are lying and will probably give you an extension. Blame a family crisis. Try to pick something your teacher won't ask about too much or won't want to call your family to verify. Say your mom and dad are having marital problems. Get teary-eyed if you can do that on command. Claim the death of a family member. Make it someone close enough that it would affect you, but not so close that the teacher will find out about it. A great aunt or uncle works as they tend to be older. There is also no limit on the amount of great aunts and uncles you have, whereas with grandparents there is a limited number of times you can use that excuse. Plus, you don't want to tempt karma by saying your grandma died unexpectedly. Say that you are having a private family issue and you don't feel comfortable talking about it, but you can't do the homework. Tell your teacher your pet died. But be aware that if your teacher happens to be having a conversation with your parents and says something like "Sorry about the dog!" they may find out you were lying. Blame your memory. Say you thought the assignment was due the next day or you wrote it down wrong. When the teacher says they are collecting your work, look worried and ask your classmates, "What homework?!" But be aware that "I forgot" excuses are very common and often not effective. Tell the teacher you were in the bathroom when they assigned the work and you completely missed that you had homework. However, if your teacher has a good memory or writes homework on the board or on a school website, there is a high chance this will not work. Fake sick. You can either fake sick to stay home from school completely, or just go to the nurse's office before class and tell them you have a terrible stomachache, headache, or menstrual cramps (if applicable). Ask if you can lay down for the period. This works best if you are somebody who rarely gets sick(maybe once or twice a year) then you will be more trustworthy if you appear sick. Go see a guidance counselor during the class period. Discuss with them that your study habits aren't great and that you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you are getting. The guidance counselor will offer you advice about how to manage your homework for the future, and can also speak to your teacher to extend the due date. Be honest. Don't be cocky or blow your teacher off. Go to them before the class begins and tell them you simply couldn't get it done. Tell them you had too much work, you had to study for a huge exam, you were exhausted or feeling unwell, or you didn't understand the assignment. Show that you don't feel good about not doing your homework. They may give you an extension or tell you not to worry about it this time. If you do this too often your teacher will stop being sympathetic, so make sure it only happens once or twice. Make it look like you did the work if your teacher only glances at your homework. Put random but relevant-looking work (ex: 2+2= 23/7 Carry the four Multiply by two 7) and hope that they don't look too closely. If your teacher walks around the class checking for homework, but doesn't take it in, write your homework page and task at the top of some random notes you have for that class. If they're not attentive, they won't notice. If they are attentive, try to distract them by asking a question related to the subject or show them a word in the textbook you don't understand. Look up the answers online or in the back of the book. Many textbooks have all or half of the answers listed in the back of the book (especially math books). Your teacher may have found the worksheets or questions online, too, so search for the answers online. Act like you did the homework, but forgot it at home. Search your bag thoroughly in front of the teacher before coming up empty handed. Say something like "I'm so sorry, my alarm didn't go off this morning and I was so late that I just shoved everything in my bag. I must have forgotten it." Say you must have left it on your desk/in the car/on the bus and ask if you can turn it in at the end of the day. Then you can quickly do the assignment during lunch. Get help from friends. Ask someone for the answers or to do your homework for you. You can make a deal with a friend that if they do your assignment this time, you'll get them back another time. Just remember that this can be considered cheating, and you could be in big trouble if you get caught. Try asking one friend for answers to questions #1 and #2, then another friend for the answers to questions #3 and #4, and so on until the assignment is complete. Assemble a study group and let them work out all the answers. If you have a friend who owes you a favor, tell them this is how they can repay their debt. Destroy the assignment if it's on a CD or flash drive. Crack the CD in the case before class then carry a lot of stuff to the class and fall or drop everything as you walk into class. Pick up your broken CD. Your teacher will be sympathetic as the entire thing just happened in front of their eyes. Bring in a blank flash drive and swear to your teacher you saved it to the drive and you don't know what happened. Purposely corrupt the file. You can open a program in one program and then forcefully save it as a word document. When your teacher tries to open the document, it will show an error message. (Be aware, though, that some teachers are catching onto this trick and will give you a zero instead!) Go into File Explorer and find the file you want to make corrupt. Right click over the file and select 'Open With...', then select Notepad. Once the file opens in Notepad you should see a really bizarre document with gibberish. Click anywhere within the document and type something random in it, disturbing the flow. After this just save and submit. When your teacher opens it, it will show up an error. Do not select "use application as default" when selecting Notepad after File Explorer step or else all word documents (.docx) will automatically in Notepad showing gibberish. Create a blank image in Paint and save it in.bmp format. After that, forcefully change its format into.doc (right-click and hit Properties), and change the title to the name of your homework assignment. Now, when you try to open the file in any text viewing program, it will show up as a broken file. Send it to the teacher, and if they ask you the next day, just say sorry about this inconvenience and promise to send it this evening. Now, you have an extra day to complete your homework. Say that you need to work on the computer. You could be on the computer telling your parents that you're doing your homework, and when they walk away, all you have to do is open a new tab on the window and go do whatever you want to do. Remember to switch back to doing your homework when the parent comes back. So your parents check your history? Easy. If you have the Google Chrome browser, you can use Incognito mode. This will not track your history at all. Press ctrl+shift+N at the same time to open an Incognito tab. Remember to close all Incognito tabs before you go back to doing your homework. Remember ctrl + w closes a window with one tab without prompt, so it is the perfect way without downloading Firefox and certain add-ons to use the computer without parent's knowing anything of your exploits. Tell your parents you did all your homework at school already during lunch or during your study hall. If they ask to see it, say you left it in your locker so you wouldn't bring it home and forget to bring it back to school the next day. Or you can show them some old notes or old homework from your classes and pretend that it is your currently assigned, already completed homework. This will work if your parents have not already seen those assignments or they are not stamped or signed by a teacher. If they are, say that your teacher allowed you to turn in your homework and get it graded a little early. Be aware that most teachers don't grade assignments early and this excuse is sometimes unbelievable. Tell your parents you're going to the library or a friend's house to study. Leave the house with your backpack and text books. If you do go to a friend's house, play video games or just hang out the whole time. You can also go hang out at the mall or somewhere else, but be aware your parents could catch you!	Get to know your teacher first. Blame technology. Blame a family crisis. Blame your memory. Fake sick. Go see a guidance counselor during the class period. Be honest. Make it look like you did the work if your teacher only glances at your homework. Look up the answers online or in the back of the book. Act like you did the homework, but forgot it at home. Get help from friends. Destroy the assignment if it's on a CD or flash drive. Purposely corrupt the file. Say that you need to work on the computer. Tell your parents you did all your homework at school already during lunch or during your study hall. Tell your parents you're going to the library or a friend's house to study.
https://www.wikihow.com/Check-a-Condom	How to Check a Condom	To check a condom is safe to use, start by looking at the wrapper to make sure it's still within its expiration date, since out-of-date condoms will break more easily. After checking the expiration date, examine the wrapper to ensure there are no holes or tears, which would also make the condom unsafe. When you've taken it out of its wrapper, feel the condom to make sure it's not dry, stiff, or sticky, which are signs that the condom has been damaged. You should also use the right size, as a condom that's too big or small won't be as effective. Once you've put the condom on, make sure there's no air in the tip, which can cause it to burst open during sex.	Check the expiration date on the box at the store. Look before you buy to make sure that the condoms you're about to purchase haven't expired. Do not purchase or use expire condoms. Expiration dates should have a month and year. Expired condoms weaken over time and may easily break. Do not use an expired condom. Store the condoms properly. Keep your condoms in a cool, dry place, away from heat and sunshine. Also, don't shove them in your wallet where they can be crumpled and bent. Never place condoms in the back pocket of your pants. Sitting on condoms may damage them. Keep condoms out of the glove compartment of your car. The temperature in your car may range from hot, to cold, to humid and this can cause damage to condoms. Use a new condom each time. Never reuse a condom. Repeated use can cause breakage and leftover bodily fluids may also leak out. Throw away the condom after you use it and get a new one the next time you need one. Check the expiration date of the individually wrapped condom. Even if you purchased the condoms recently, check the expiration date before you use one. If the condom has expired, then do not use it. An expired condom is more likely to break than one that is in date. Look at the condition of the packaging. There should be no tears or holes in the package. If there is a hole in the wrapper, the condom may have dried out, rendering it ineffective and likely to break. Press on the wrapper. You should feel a little bit of air resistance from inside the package. This means the package has not been torn or punctured and your condom is good to go. Squish and slide the wrapper to the side. While still pressing on the wrapper, gently push it the condom inside for a side-slide motion. This slight movement indicates that the lubricant inside has not dried out and, as long as the expiry date has not been passed, is still good. This slide test only works for lubricated condoms. Unlubricated condoms will not slide in the package but you can still do the air resistance test. A dried out condom will weaken, crack, and break, exposing you to your partner's fluids, potential pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Do not use your teeth. Opening a package with your teeth might be convenient, but tiny rips in the condom can happen that you might not notice before you put it on. Instead, tear open the wrapper by pulling apart the premade notch on one of the corners. Keep the package away from sharp objects. Never use scissors, knives, or other sharp objects to open the package or you may accidentally puncture the condom. Feel the condom. If it feels dry, stiff, or extra sticky when it comes out of the package, it might not have been stored properly. Discard a dry, sticky, and/or stiff condom and get a new one. Remove jewelry if it is in the way. Rings and genital piercings can tear a condom, so you may want to remove them before putting on a condom. Also, be careful when putting on a condom if you have sharp nails. Pinch the tip. Make sure you have squeezed the air out of the tip. Air in the tip of the condom can cause it to burst open and break during use. Squeeze the tip between your forefinger and thumb while you roll the rest of the condom down the penis. Check your fit. There are a couple of reasons why you need to make sure you have the right sized condom. Your condom should be neither too small nor too big and shouldn't roll back up from the base once you have it on an erect penis. Measure your erect penis to ensure you buy the right size - it might take a few tries to make sure you have the best fit. You need to have room at the tip to catch the semen. That tip that you pinched to squeeze out the air so the condom wouldn't burst has to have room for ejaculate. If you don't have space at the tip, the condom could burst, leaving you and your partner at risk for STIs and pregnancy. The condom can't be too loose so as to move around. A loose-fitting condom allows for movement of fluids or could fall off all together, again putting you and your partner at risk. Measure for fit at home before you buy. Be realistic; don't go for image. “Small” and “large” sizes have more to do with width than length but you can also get shorter or longer condoms, so practice safer sex and choose wisely. Use a water-based lubricant. Oil-based lubricants can weaken the condom and make it break. Choose a water-based lubricant instead. Don't use oil-based lubricants, baby oil, massage lotion, petroleum jelly, or hand cream as a lubricant.	Check the expiration date on the box at the store. Store the condoms properly. Keep condoms out of the glove compartment of your car. Use a new condom each time. Check the expiration date of the individually wrapped condom. Look at the condition of the packaging. Press on the wrapper. Squish and slide the wrapper to the side. Do not use your teeth. Keep the package away from sharp objects. Feel the condom. Remove jewelry if it is in the way. Pinch the tip. Check your fit. Use a water-based lubricant.
https://www.wikihow.com/Brush-an-Irish-Water-Spaniel	How to Brush an Irish Water Spaniel	To brush an Irish water spaniel, shampoo your dog once a month to keep its fur soft, which will make it easier to brush. As you prepare to brush your dog, calm it down by petting it, talking to it in reassuring tones, and offering it small treats. When your dog is ready, use a coarse scrub brush to gently remove any dirt and loosen the coat for the next stage of brushing. Then, use a wide-tooth steel comb to check for matting and tangles, which can be worked through with a de-matting comb or mat separator. Once you've removed all the mats, use a slicker brush to comb the puff of hair on your dog's head.	Give the dog a monthly wash. The coat of your spaniel will be easier to brush if you shampoo it regularly. One shampooing per month will clean the fur adequately while still allowing its natural oils to benefit the coat and skin. Shampooing can help to untangle and soften the coat, making brushing less discomforting for the dog and less strenuous for you. Make sure the dog's coat is fully dry before beginning with brushing. Another way to soften the coat before brushing is to use an anti-static spray. Most pet stores with dog grooming supplies should carry this. You can begin shampooing a puppy after they're five weeks old. Put them at ease. Some dogs may shy away from being brushed, especially when they're younger and not used to it. But you can help to calm them by petting them in their favorite spot, such as the chest or stomach. Talking to them in affectionate and reassuring tones before and during the brushing can also make them less nervous. And offering them small treats as you brush will help to keep their attention off any discomfort they may feel, while creating a positive association between brushing and rewards. For example, you could tell them, "That's a good dog, come here and get some treats," or "Sadie, time for brushing, here's a treat, that's a good girl." Avoid grooming just before meals or soon after they wake up, since they may be more restless at these times. Use a grooming table. In order for you and your dog to be in the best position for brushing, place the dog on a table for brushing. The higher the table the better, since the closer the dog is to your torso area while you stand, the less you'll have to bend over and potentially strain your back. A workbench or kitchen counter will typically be near the correct height to act as a grooming table. To prevent your spaniel from slipping while being brushed, place non-skid material, such as a rubber mat or sturdy cloth, over the surface of the table. If your spaniel refuses to stay on a high table, you can try grooming them on a bed or couch. Give them a general brushing. Use a coarse scrub brush with natural bristles to comb once gently through the entire coat. This will remove superficial dirt and loosen up the coat for the next stages of brushing. Since Irish water spaniels have long and soft hair, you should use a scrub brush that has long, widely spaced, and soft bristles. Check for matting. A good way to locate matted hair is to comb through the coat with a wide-tooth steel comb. If you come across any tangled, clumped, or matted hair, first try to gently tease out the tangle with the steel comb. Whatever matting remains can be separated with a de-matting comb or mat separator. And adding some vinegar to the matted or tangled area can loosen it and allow you to comb it out. Vinegar can sting if your dog's skin is irritated. Dilute it with some water first if your dog has any skin irritations, scrapes, or sores. Start with the head. Now changing to a slicker brush, comb through the puff of hair on the head, or “top knot.” This should be done by brushing in the direction opposite the way the hair falls. Flatten the top knot forward against the top of the head, and brush it in this direction. Then flatten it back the other way and brush toward the back end of the dog. As you proceed, remove dead hair caught between the bristles of the slicker brush. Continue with the ears, brushing first upward against the way the hair falls, then downward to smooth it out. Start by brushing the top of the hairs, and work your way down toward the skin. Brush more gently as you get closer to the skin. Move on to the feet. Pick up a front foot by the elbow, and brush upwards against the fall of the hair. Then, as with the top knot, brush downwards to smooth out the coat. Then repeat this with the other legs. Pay extra attention to high-friction areas under the legs, where matting and tangling are typically found. Since you'll only be holding one leg at a time, the dog may be tempted to run off at this stage. If the dog does try to escape, ask someone to help you hold their body as you brush the feet. If your dog doesn't like their feet being touched, you may want to wait and do this last. Brush the body. Finally, use the same technique to brush through rest of the body, still using a slicker brush. Starting at the neck, brush toward the front, removing dead hair from the comb's teeth. Then brush the same area in the opposite direction, smoothing the coat out towards the back end. Work toward the tail, then finish by brushing the belly. Reward them with a treat. After you've finished, be sure to reward your dog with their favorite treat, pet them, and tell them that they were good. Concluding the brushing session this way will make your spaniel less likely to be afraid to be brushed the next time.	Give the dog a monthly wash. Put them at ease. Use a grooming table. Give them a general brushing. Check for matting. Start with the head. Move on to the feet. Brush the body. Reward them with a treat.
https://www.wikihow.fitness/Prevent-Throwing-up-when-Exercising	How to Prevent Throwing up when Exercising	To prevent throwing up when exercising, breathe slowly and consistently to avoid sharp spikes in blood pressure, which can create the feeling of nausea. Additionally, keep your eyes open and focused on the horizon during exercises like sit ups, since your body is more prone to nausea when it feels off balance. Make sure to keep yourself hydrated with water throughout your workout to prevent symptoms like dizziness and headaches. Alternatively, try a power drink like Gatorade if you're prone to low blood sugar.	Drink water regularly to replace the water lost during exercise. Dehydration is common among people who exercise. You should steadily drink water before, during and after a workout to replace the water you have lost. Other symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, sticky mouth, thirst, decreased urine output, muscle weakness, dizziness and headaches. Stay hydrated by drinking at least 2 cups (473 ml) of water 1 to 2 hours before working out. Drink 2 more cups (473 ml) 20 to 30 minutes before you start exercising. During your workout, drink 1/2 cup (118 ml) of water for every 15 minutes you exercise. Never gulp water during exercise. Gulping down large quantities of water can give you a relieved feeling; however, your body has a defense mechanism of causing vomiting if your stomach is too full. Drink water in steady sips during your workout. Eat a meal 1 to 2 hours before you work out. One of the largest causes of workout sickness is low blood sugar. If your body has already used up its stores of calories you may start to sweat more than usual, feel dizzy, nauseated, and pass out. The best prevention is to ensure that you eat a meal of at least 300 calories, which includes protein and carbohydrates, before your workout. If it is not possible for you to eat a meal a few hours before you workout, then eat a small carbohydrate-based snack, such as a banana, and drink a protein shake after your workout. Carbohydrates are the fuel that is used during aerobic activity. Protein helps to rebuild the muscles after your workout. Do not exercise immediately after you have eaten. It is important to give your digestive system the time and energy to devote to digestion. If you do not, necessary fluids will be pulled away from your muscles and into your digestive tract. Drink a power drink, like Gatorade, during your workout, if you are prone to low blood sugar. Although fruit and sweet drinks have high levels of sugar, they can help to raise your blood sugar to safe levels and hydrate you. Avoid carbonated drinks before, during or after workouts. Carbonation or even excessive shaking of a water bottle can increase the amount of gas in your stomach after you drink. Drinking from a glass produces less gas than drinking from a water bottle. Don't close your eyes when you exercise. When you do abdominal crunches, floor exercise, yoga, pilates and weightlifting it is common for people to close their eyes and focus on the movement. Open your eyes and focus on the horizon so your body can better understand the movement, just as if you were motion sick in a car. Breathe slowly and consistently during weight training. Controlling your breathing can help to lower your blood pressure. A sharp rise in blood pressure can create the feeling of nausea and induce vomiting. High blood pressure is especially a problem among weight lifters. Lifting heavy weights can cause an extreme hike in blood pressure. It is important to breathe as you lift and avoid doing too much at once. Reduce your bending. If you draw in a big breath and bend over, your stomach can get the feeling of being too full and induce vomiting. Squat instead of bending, if you are breathing heavily. Reduce your workout intensity, if you are at maximum heart rate. Overexertion often leads to exercise-induced vomiting. Prevent this by increasing your workouts incrementally, so that you stay between 70 and 85 percent of maximum heart rate.	Drink water regularly to replace the water lost during exercise. Never gulp water during exercise. Eat a meal 1 to 2 hours before you work out. Do not exercise immediately after you have eaten. Drink a power drink, like Gatorade, during your workout, if you are prone to low blood sugar. Avoid carbonated drinks before, during or after workouts. Don't close your eyes when you exercise. Breathe slowly and consistently during weight training. Reduce your bending. Reduce your workout intensity, if you are at maximum heart rate.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lentil-Soup	How to Make Lentil Soup	To make lentil soup, start by adding water, garlic, and bay leaves to a pot. Then, heat everything over medium-high heat, and pour in about 1 pound of lentils. Next, partially cover the pot with a lid, bring the water to a boil, and then reduce the heat to medium for 40 minutes. After 20 minutes, add vinegar, olive oil, and salt to the pot. Finally, once the lentils are soft, remove the pot from the heat and serve your soup.	Clean the lentils. Pour one pound of lentils out of the bag onto a clean, flat, white surface and pick out any little rocks that might be mixed in. Fill up a large pot of water almost all the way. Clean 4-5 pieces of garlic and put them into the pot. You can add a bit more or less, depending on how much garlic you like in your food. Add 4 bay leaves into the pot. Cooking your soup with bay leaves will give it a distinctive flavor. Heat the water and other ingredients over high heat. Pour the lentils into the pot. Leave the pot slightly uncovered, by using a stirring ladle to prop up the cover. Boil the water. After the water reaches a boil, turn it down to medium heat and cook the lentils for 35-45 minutes, depending on how long it takes for them to soften. Check the lentils periodically for hardness. When they are soft, but not yet coming apart, they are ready. Use a fork or spoon to check on them, stirring occasionally. After cooking for 20 minutes, add the vinegar, olive oil, and salt to the pot. Add 1/3 cup of vinegar, 1/2 cup of olive oil, and a teaspoon or two of salt to the pot. Stir all of these into the soup and allow to boil for the remainder of the time. Turn off the stove and serve the soup. Once you have determined that your lentils are ready, turn off the stove, and allow the soup to cool in its pot for a while. This tasty soup can be enjoyed on its own, or served with some bread or sprinkled with Feta cheese. If you want to mix up this recipe, next time, then try making one of these varieties: Lentil soup with lemon and dill. Just add 3 tablespoons (44.4 ml) of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1/2 cup of chopped fresh dill to the soup and stir well. Lentil soup with smoked paprika. Just add one teaspoon of smoked paprika for an extra kick. Lentil soup with sausage or bacon. Add 1/4 pound of chopped bacon, pancetta, or sausage and cook it in the pot until it's just a bit crisp. Then, add the other ingredients. You can even drain the extra fat or use it instead of olive oil. Combine all of the ingredients except the spinach in a crock pot. Place 1 lb. of green lentils, 1 US-quart (950 ml) of vegetable broth, 4 cups of water, 4 diced celery ribs, 4 diced carrots, 1 diced onion, 3-4 minced garlic cloves, 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 tsp. of dried oregano, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme, 2 bay leaves, 1 pinch of cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper to taste in a large crock pot. Stir the ingredients well to combine them. Cook the soup on low heat for 8-10 hours. Cooking times vary slightly depending on how long it takes the lentils to soften without becoming too soft, and how long it takes for the soup to thicken. When it's ready, turn off the heat. Stir in the spinach. Stir in 1/2 lb. of spinach and let it sit in the pot for a few minutes until it's completely wilted. You may think that you're putting in way too much spinach, but as the spinach wilts, it will get much smaller. Serve. Give this soup just a few minutes to cool down and then enjoy it on its own or with a slice of French bread. If you want it to be really creamy, you can even add a teaspoon of sour cream. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Place 2 tablespoon (29.6 ml). olive oil in a Dutch oven that is 6 US quarts (6,000 ml) large. Wait for it to heat up for at least one minute before you add more ingredients. Add the carrot, onion, celery, and salt to the oven. Add 1 cup of chopped onion, 1/2 cup of finely chopped carrot, 1/2 cup of finely chopped celery, and 2 tsp. of kosher salt to the Dutch oven. Cook these ingredients until the onion becomes translucent. This should take about 6 or 7 minutes. Stir the ingredients a bit to combine them. Add the tomatoes, lentils, broth, coriander, and grains of paradise to the oven and bring the ingredients to a boil. Now, add the rest of the ingredients to the oven: 1 cup of peeled and chopped tomatoes, 1 pound of lentils, 2 US quarts (2,000 ml) of chicken/vegetable broth, 1/2 tsp. of coriander, 1/2 tsp. of cumin, and 1/2 tsp. of grains of paradise. Stir the ingredients well to combine them. After that, heat the oven to high heat and wait until you've brought the ingredients to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 35-40 more minutes. Cook the ingredients for the soup at a low simmer until the lentils are tender. You can test them with a fork from time to time. If you'd like the consistency to be a bit thicker, then you can puree the ingredients in a stick blender before serving. Serve. Enjoy this hearty soup with a baguette. It should only take a few minutes to cool down and to be ready to eat. If you have leftovers, just refrigerate the soup and enjoy it for the next few days.	Clean the lentils. Fill up a large pot of water almost all the way. Clean 4-5 pieces of garlic and put them into the pot. Add 4 bay leaves into the pot. Heat the water and other ingredients over high heat. Pour the lentils into the pot. Boil the water. Check the lentils periodically for hardness. After cooking for 20 minutes, add the vinegar, olive oil, and salt to the pot. Turn off the stove and serve the soup. Combine all of the ingredients except the spinach in a crock pot. Cook the soup on low heat for 8-10 hours. Stir in the spinach. Serve. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the carrot, onion, celery, and salt to the oven. Add the tomatoes, lentils, broth, coriander, and grains of paradise to the oven and bring the ingredients to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 35-40 more minutes. Serve.
https://www.wikihow.com/Feel-Confident-Before-an-Exam	How to Feel Confident Before an Exam	If you've prepared the best you can ahead of your exam, easing your test-day nerves is easy. Get at least 8 hours of sleep the night before the test to ensure you're well-rested. When you wake up the morning of the exam, eat a protein-filled breakfast, and avoid sugar, which could cause your energy to crash later in the day. You should also avoid caffeine, which might increase your anxiety and make you feel jittery.	Make a study schedule. To make sure you don't leave studying to the last minute, create a schedule for when you will study during the days or weeks before the exam. For example, you could commit to studying for one hour a day right after school for one week before the exam. Making a study schedule can help you to avoid allowing other activities to interfere with studying. Plan to study for about 45 minutes at a time. It's difficult to concentrate for more than 45 minutes. You may find it easier to concentrate if you take short breaks once an hour. If the test will cover a lot of material, consider using the “chunking” technique. Break your topic into sections so that you can focus on each one comfortable instead of trying to cover all of the material in every study session. You can then plan your study sessions around specific sections of the material. Create, revise, and review your study tools. Choose tools that fit the subject matter and your learning style. Options include flash cards, outlines, timelines, charts, and sample test questions. Create a one-page summary with the most important ideas, equations, or methods for the exam. The process of creating this summary will prompt you to identify the most important information that you need to know for the exam, which will help you to study more efficiently. If the exam is open-book, this summary sheet can also be a helpful guide to your notes or textbook while you're taking the test. Keep your learning style in mind when creating your study tools. For example, if you are a more visual learner, you may retain more information by drawing diagrams or mindmaps. Prepare based on the kind of test you’re taking. You'll need to prepare differently depending on whether your exam will require you to write an essay or answer multiple choice questions. Make sure you know what kind of test you'll be taking and prepare accordingly. If you are taking a standardized test, take a few practice tests to familiarize yourself with the structure and timing of the test. For national standardized tests like the SAT, you will be able to find copies of previous versions of the test which you can take for practice. If you will be taking an essay exam, practice writing essay responses while you study. It can be helpful to time yourself so that you know you'll be able to complete the essay during the allotted test period. If your test involves a lot of memorized material, remember that you probably won't remember everything on the first try. Memorization and recall improve with repetition. Collect your supplies the night before the test. Make sure that you have everything you need -- pencils, pens, a calculator, your notes -- to take the test prepared and ready to go the night before to avoid test day anxiety. If you'll be using a calculator or other electronic device, check the batteries and/or bring a spare with you. Find out which optional items you are allowed to bring, such as snacks or your textbook for an open-book test. Think positively. Scientific research has shown that our expectations can affect our performance. If you expect to do well on the exam, you will still have to study; but if you expect to do poorly, studying may not be enough to help you do well. Practice self-affirmation - the process of transforming your thoughts to focus on the positive and downplay the negative. For example, remind yourself that you worked hard to prepare for this test. Challenge your negative thoughts. For example, if you think that doing badly on the exam will ruin your life, tell yourself that this is not true. Then replace that thought with a more accurate one - failing a test may hurt your grade, but it's not the end of the world. If you're having a hard time quelling negative thoughts, try distracting yourself using humor. Watch a funny movie or TV show, read a funny book or comic. You can even try to remember all of the jokes you know. Maintain perspective. Remind yourself that your grade on this one test will not determine your success or failure in life. Even an extremely important test such as the bar exam can be taken again if you don't pass. Research shows that some anxiety can actually help your test performance. Remind yourself that manageable levels of anxiety can increase your alertness and energy. To combat anxiety that arises when you're first given the exam, make sure to read over the entire test before beginning. Look for “easy” questions - when you're prepared, you shouldn't have trouble finding them. Finding the questions you're sure you know the answers to will help to remind you that you do know the material. Visualize success. While you're studying, imagine yourself taking the test and answering the questions with confidence. Imagine yourself getting the test back with the grade you want. While visualization can't replace preparation, it can help you to feel more confident, which can improve performance. Visualization works because your brain and body react to visualization as if you were actually experiencing the event you're imagining. Your brain forms and strengthens connections as a result - in this case, between test taking and success. Calm your body. Fear releases adrenaline, preparing the body to deal with danger. Your heart rate and breathing speed up and you may feel shaky, sweaty, and/or dizzy. Anything you can do to counteract these physical reactions will help you think more clearly and feel more confident. Remember to use these techniques during the test if you feel anxious. Calming techniques include: Breathing. Breathing exercises can help you to relax, including slow, abdominal breathing and 'equal breathing' - equalizing the time you spend breathing in and breathing out. Stretching. You don't have to do a full yoga routine to get the benefits of stretching. Try stretching your arms above your head and behind your back to release shoulder tension; standing forward bends can release back and neck tension. Relaxing your muscles. You may not even be aware that you're holding tension in your muscles. To become aware, try a body scan, which involves focusing on each body part for a few seconds, starting with the toes and moving up progressively to the top of your head. Walking. Moving your body will help clear your mind. Just remember to pay attention to your surroundings -- don't spend the whole walk worrying about the exam! Eat before the exam. Don't skip breakfast to study. Make sure you eat something an hour or two before taking the test. Choose protein-filled snacks and avoid sugar, which can give you quick energy that may run out in the middle of the exam.. Eat something even if you feel nauseous - try crackers or toast to settle your stomach. Avoid caffeine and energy drinks, which can increase anxiety. Get a good night’s sleep before the test. Studies have shown that you will do better on an exam if you get enough sleep than if you spend all night studying. If the test is later in the day or the evening, or if you just couldn't get a full night's sleep, take a nap. Research has shown that a short nap - less than an hour - can improve alertness, memory, creativity, productivity, and mood, and can decrease stress. Ask questions. Don't just rely on your books and notes. If you have a question as you study, ask your teacher, parent, or tutor. You'll feel more confident knowing you got the answer to your question from the most reliable source. Don't forget to ask your teacher what materials will be covered. For example, ask if the exam will be based on homework, reading assignments, and/or on class discussion. If you are having trouble understanding a topic, you can also ask a librarian to help you find other resources that you can use for clarification. Form a study group. Make sure you study with other students who are serious about studying. You'll feel more confident if you have worked with other students to make sure you are studying the right information and understanding the material. Invite students at a variety of ability levels into the group. Students can learn from teaching each other. The members of a study group may benefit from sharing class notes. Different students may have taken note of different information during class - compiling and verifying this information from a number of students can help ensure you know the material that will be on the exam. Rely on your support group. Friends and family may not be able to help you understand calculus or learn French, but they can help you to feel more confident. Ask a member of your support group to let you explain the material that will be on the test to them. You need a solid understanding of a concept to be able to explain it to someone who doesn't know much about it. If you can explain the Second Law of Thermodynamics or the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire to your grandmother, you may feel more confident that you have a grasp of the material. Friends and family may also be able to help you in peripheral ways. For example, if you know you tend to sleep through your alarm clock, ask a reliable member of your support group to call you to make sure you're awake.	Make a study schedule. Create, revise, and review your study tools. Prepare based on the kind of test you’re taking. Collect your supplies the night before the test. Think positively. Maintain perspective. Visualize success. Calm your body. Eat before the exam. Get a good night’s sleep before the test. Ask questions. Form a study group. Rely on your support group.
https://www.wikihow-fun.com/Be-a-Kawaii-Girl	How to Be a Kawaii Girl	To be a Kawaii girl, dress in bright, colorful clothes with feminine details like frills and bows. Then, add key chains, clip-on stuffed animals, and other cute accessories to your backpack or purse. If you wear makeup, go for a clean, innocent look with pink blush and pink, sparkly lip gloss. Then, make your eyes look as big as possible by lining them with black eyeliner and applying white eyeshadow around the inner corners. Additionally, try doing your hair in braids, pigtails, side ponytails, or any other style you'd see on a young girl.	Don't worry about race and ethnicity––these don't matter. Even if you are not Asian, you can still be Kawaii. Being Kawaii is more than just about race or ethnicity. Your body shape doesn't matter either, Kawaii girls can be short, tall, flat, curvy, or skinny! Get the attitude. Kawaii girls have sweet, nice attitudes that everyone loves! They giggle a lot, are super kind to everyone around them, never pick fights, and are just pleasant to be around! Kawaii is all about being adorable, so find things that you like. Hello Kitty is super adorable and loved by many so that's a good place to start. Don't just get something because it is Kawaii, get it because you like it. Get the look. Here's where the innocent, lovable image comes in. Kawaii girls dress in bright, frilly clothes that just scream "cute!". Think outfits like floral, childish/elegant, scalloped designs, patterned overalls, balloon shorts with bows, etc. Go out shopping find the most adorable clothing you can find. Look for colour and cuteness, but, if you don't love and don't think it would look good on you, put it back. Don't buy something you don't like just because it is Kawaii. Dress brightly and colorfully. Put lots of key chains and things like that on your backpack or purse. Kid Robot has some Kawaii stuffed animals. Accessorize well and make sure your outfits look good together. Try finding old or used clothes and add lace, bows or other cute attributes. Many things that don't seem kawaii can look great with some changes. For example, you could add cute animal stickers to white sneakers. Try adding lace to a normal skirt. Do Kawaii makeup. Use black gel and/or liquid eyeliner, pink cream blush, sparkly pink lip gloss, and light concealer/foundation. You want a clean but innocent makeup look. For a good Kawaii makeup tutorial, watch Jemma Kuma's video on Kawaii makeup on YouTube. Don't do anything sexy if you want to fully follow the kawaii style. Don't do smoky eye, for example. Get your nails done. Look videos up on Youtube if you want a good idea for DIY ideas. Often Kawaii girls wear fake, long and accessorized nails. This might be too much for you, so you got to find out what suits you. Neatly manicured nails are also good and can work in lots of looks. Try adding stickers to your nails. Just be careful not to paint over them. If would be best to add them after your nails are dry. Keep your eyes as large as possible. In pictures, Kawaii girls always have eyes wide open. You can lay an ice-cold washcloth on your eyes for about five minutes, then apply some pearly eyeshadow to under your eyes, on your crease. Big eyes are cute, but don't worry if your eyes aren't big. Do Kawaii hair. For hair, think "young child." Pigtails, side ponytails, braids, anything you'd see on a student in elementary school. Don't forget to add bows! Be yourself. Add your own flair to the Kawaii style using whatever you like, and make the style your own. Try watching anime. It is super fun and interesting and there is something for everyone. It's not all fighting and things like that! For example, try watching Peach Girl. It's great! Surround yourself with friends, Kawaii or not. Really, labels don't matter at all. All that really matters is how much love and support you surround yourself with. Have Kawaii role models. Look around online for great Kawaii women you can look up to. Make sure they make good decisions, are super nice and sweet, and use good language, because Kawaii girls never curse. Many K-pop and J-pop idols are kawaii or have clothes that could be kawaii. Some look cuter than others. You can copy their outfit styles, which will make you look more kawaii. Go check them out!	Don't worry about race and ethnicity––these don't matter. Get the attitude. Get the look. Dress brightly and colorfully. Do Kawaii makeup. Get your nails done. Keep your eyes as large as possible. Do Kawaii hair. Be yourself. Try watching anime. Surround yourself with friends, Kawaii or not. Have Kawaii role models.
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited	How to Care for a Dog After It Has Just Vomited	To care for your dog after it vomits, wait 12 hours before feeding it so you don't irritate its stomach and cause more vomiting. Also, only give your dog a little bit of water every hour so it doesn't drink too much and get sick again. Try to get your dog to lie down and rest after it vomits, and put a blanket on it if it seems cold. If any vomit got on your dog's fur, clean it off with a warm, damp washcloth.	Check for shock. Your dog may need immediate medical treatment by the vet if he shows signs of shock. Signs include: Pale skin and gums Abnormal behavior Collapse Weakness Difficulty getting up and walking Reluctance when lifting his head Depressed demeanor Keep your dog warm and comfortable. After your dog has vomited, reassure him that he's done nothing wrong. Try to get him to lie down and rest. If he seems cool or is shivering, put a blanket over him and give him plenty of attention and support. Let your dog take it easy. Help him get comfortable on the floor, so that he doesn't have to try getting up and walking around. Clean your dog’s soiled fur with a warm, wet washcloth. Dried vomit can cause your dog's hair to get matted, so it is a good idea to clean him up. Only do this once your dog has rested for a bit and stop cleaning if your dog becomes stressed by the bath. You may want to place puppy pads or old towels under his chin and around him, so that if he's sick again he doesn't soil the carpet. Some dogs recognize puppy pads as appropriate places to toilet. This may relieve his anxiety about being unclean if knows he has somewhere to vomit. Watch for signs that your dog may vomit again. Keep a close eye on your dog after he has vomited since repeated vomiting needs medical attention. Signs that he may vomit again include retching, or a noise that sounds like he has something stuck in his throat; a stiff or rigid stance; and wandering around aimlessly. Get immediate treatment for bloat. If your dog vomits, but nothing comes up your dog may have a serious and life-threatening condition called bloat. Symptoms include repeated attempts to vomit without actually producing vomit and drooling strings of saliva (because he can't swallow it). Your dog needs emergency medical treatment for bloat, since this serious condition can kill within hours if it's not treated. Watch for dehydration. Once your dog vomits, he may feel nauseous which prevents him from wanting to drink. This, along with vomiting up fluid, can cause dehydration if the amount of fluid he loses is greater than the amount of fluid he's taking in. If your dog is showing early signs of dehydration, give him an electrolyte drink mixed with water every few hours for a day. If the dehydration doesn't improve, get medical attention. Early signs of dehydration include: Excessive panting Dry mouth, gums, or nose Visible lethargy (fatigue) Dry or sunken eyes Lack of skin elasticity (the skin won't fall back into place immediately if you pinch a little and release it) Weakness in the hind end (a later stage of dehydration) Unsteadiness when walking (a later stage of dehydration) Know when to contact the vet. If the vomiting is simple and straightforward, such as after scavenging garbage, then most times you can nurse the dog better at home by offering fluids, and withholding food. However, you should always watch for signs that your dog needs immediate medical attention. These include: Retching with nothing coming up Vomiting once or twice with your dog still seeming dull and depressed Vomiting for more than 4 hours or not being able to keep water down Vomiting blood which could indicate a serious ulcer in the stomach wall Distinguish between vomiting and regurgitation to determine proper treatment. Dogs can often regurgitate, raise undigested food with no abdominal effort, without showing signs of other illnesses. If your dog regurgitates, he may just need his food to be raised off the floor so that gravity helps pass the food down into his stomach. However, if your dog forcefully vomits (acute vomiting) the contents of his stomach, this means his muscles are contracting. You'll notice your dog hunched up and the vomit will probably smell foul. Regurgitation is usually a sign of esophageal issues or other problems in the early stages of the digestive process. For example, often dogs eat too much too quickly. In this case, the food your dog expels will usually be undigested and tubular in shape. If your dog regularly regurgitates food, he may have a long term medical condition so put his food up on a chair, but also let your vet assess him. Consider the causes of vomiting. Think about your dog's recent diet, behaviour, emotions, and environmental conditions to determine what might be causing your dog's vomiting. For example, think about recent walks and whether your dog may have scavenged a carcass or eaten discarded food. Vomiting can be a common symptom of "garbage gut" where your dog eats things that aren't healthy which causes his body to force out the spoilt food. However, if he keeps vomiting, there may be a more serious cause including: Bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract Intestinal parasites Severe constipation Acute kidney failure Acute liver failure Colitis Parvovirus Gall bladder inflammation Pancreatitis Ingestion of a poisonous substance Heatstroke An infected uterus A reaction to medicine Cancer Assess whether the vomiting was a one-off or occurred multiple times. If your dog vomits once, eats normally and has normal bowel movements, the vomiting was probably an isolated incident. If he vomits more than once throughout the day or if it continues beyond one day, take him to the vet immediately. Continued and repetitive vomiting should be investigated more fully by a vet. Your vet should be able to diagnose the condition by conducting a range of tests, including X-rays, bloodwork, fecal analysis, urinalysis, ultrasound imaging, and/or a barium study. Examine the vomit to determine a cause of vomiting. Look at the vomit for foreign objects like wrappers, pieces of a plastic bag, bone fragments (you should not give your dog real bones as this are often implicated in vomiting episodes), etc. If you see blood in the vomit, take your dog to the vet immediately since severe blood loss can happen quickly and be fatal. If there are no foreign objects, look at the shape and consistency of the vomit. Is it undigested food or is it more liquid in form? Write down what you observe so you will be able to tell your vet if the vomiting continues. It may help your vet diagnose your dog if you can show a photo or sample of the vomit. A photo can also let the vet see the volume of vomitus which may influence treatment. Avoid feeding your dog for 12 hours. Vomiting can irritate your dog's stomach lining, which can lead to more vomiting if he eats anything soon after vomiting. His stomach needs time to rest, and this will help you determine if his vomiting was food-related. Resist the urge to feed him even if he acts hungry. This fasting will also give your dog a chance to eliminate anything that might have caused the vomiting. A puppy or young dog should not fast for more than 12 hours. If your dog has an underlying medical condition (especially diabetes), speak with your veterinarian before withholding any meals. Give your dog water. Offer him 1 teaspoon of water for every pound of his weight every hour. Continue giving water this way throughout the day and night until your dog can drink normally. Drinking too much water after vomiting can cause your dog to vomit again, while not drinking any water can cause dehydration. Call the vet if your dog is unable to keep down even this small amount of water. For example, if your dog weighs 12 pounds, he would get 12 teaspoons (¼ cup) of water every hour throughout the day and night. Consider getting pedialyte or lectade from a pharmacy or the vet. Follow the packaged instructions to reconstitute this electrolyte powder with boiled water. It's gentler on the stomach and can help reverse dehydration. Offer it in the same quantities that you would water. Be aware that not all dogs like the taste and refuse to drink it. Keep your dog hydrated if he won't drink. To prevent dehydration, you must keep your dog hydrated. Consider wiping your dog's gums with a washcloth soaked in water. This helps freshen his mouth at a time when he feels too nauseous to drink. Or, offer ice cubes for your dog to lick so he at least gets small amounts of water and keeps his mouth moist. You can also try giving him certain teas like lukewarm ginger, chamomile or mint which can help calm his stomach and digestive tract. As with water, you only want to give him a few tablespoons at a time. If he won't drink tea, try freezing it in ice cube trays and then breaking it apart into chips. He may take it this way. Keep trying to offer your dog a variety of fluids until you find one that he'll take. Reintroduce food. After 12 hours, begin introducing 2 to 3 teaspoons of foods that are low in fat and easy to digest. Lean meats like skinless chicken and hamburger will provide needed protein, while boiled potatoes, low-fat cottage cheese and well-cooked rice will give him the carbohydrates he needs. Create a mixture of 1 part lean meat to 5 parts carbohydrate. Make sure that these foods are well-cooked, drained of fat, and unseasoned which will make it easier to digest than regular dog food. If your dog does not vomit, give him a little more food every hour or two. But, if he begins to vomit again, take him to the vet for examination. Integrate dog food slowly. After the first day of feeding your dog these bland foods, you can start to mix just a little bit of his regular dog food with the food you've been making him for one meal. For example, start with a 50/50 mix for one meal, then 3/4 dog food and 1/4 of the bland diet for one meal. Then return to feeding him normally unless he begins vomiting again. Always follow the vet's recommendations and return for any follow-up exams. Stop feeding your dog if he begins vomiting again and take him to the vet. It's a good idea to keep a log of what your dog eats and drinks, the amounts he consumes, and his behavior. This will be useful information for the vet. Don't experiment with food or medications since this could make your dog's vomiting worse.	Check for shock. Keep your dog warm and comfortable. Clean your dog’s soiled fur with a warm, wet washcloth. Watch for signs that your dog may vomit again. Get immediate treatment for bloat. Watch for dehydration. Know when to contact the vet. Distinguish between vomiting and regurgitation to determine proper treatment. Consider the causes of vomiting. Assess whether the vomiting was a one-off or occurred multiple times. Examine the vomit to determine a cause of vomiting. Avoid feeding your dog for 12 hours. Give your dog water. Keep your dog hydrated if he won't drink. Reintroduce food. Integrate dog food slowly.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Working-Visa-for-Australia	How to Get a Working Visa for Australia	To get a working visa for Australia, submit an Expression of Interest form through the Skillselect portal on the Australian government's website. Make sure everything you write is true and provable, or you may not be able to apply for another working visa for up to 10 years. Once you've sent your Expression of Interest, you'll need to wait up to 2 years for it to be processed and to hear back about an invitation to apply for a visa. Before you officially apply for the visa, collect a valid passport from your country of origin and a police certificate with any criminal history, since you'll need these for the application. You'll also need to pass an English competency test and sign the Australian values statement. Once you have the necessary documents, create an ImmiAccount on the Skillselect website and apply for your visa.	Work in a role from the list of eligible skilled occupations. In most instances, you'll only be granted a full working visa in Australia if you're working in an eligible field. Look over the Australia Government's list of eligible skilled occupations to see if your chosen profession is listed. Even if your exact job title or field isn't listed, there may be one that uses similar skills which you could switch into. Take a look through the list to see if any of the occupations fit with your working history. If your job isn't on the list of eligible skilled occupations, you won't be able to apply for a working visa in Australia through traditional means. Use the Australian Department of Home Affairs website to look into other visas you may be able to apply for. You can explore visa options here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder Eligible skilled occupations include many roles, such as bakers, butchers, copywriters, and helicopter pilots. If your profession requires some specialist training, it's likely it will be included. Have your skills assessed by the relevant authority. In order to prove that you have the right skills for your chosen job, you'll need to contact the relevant Australian authority and have your skills assessed. Look at the “Assessing Authority” column in the list of eligible skilled occupations, and look online to find out how to contact them. Each assessing authority has their own rules, regulations, guidelines, and timelines for completing a skills assessment, as well as different contact methods. Look online for the assessing authority you need to get in touch with to find their contact details and get more information. If you're a medical practitioner, barrister, or solicitor, you'll need to be legally allowed to practice your profession in your chosen Australia state before you can apply. Make sure that you have more than 65 points of eligibility. Australia has a points system which allows you to quickly work out if you're eligible to live and work there. Use the Australian Immigration “points table” in order to find out how many points of eligibility you have. In order to apply for a working visa, you'll need more than 65 points. The points table from the Australian Department of Home Affairs can be found here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/points-calculator You will need to prove all of the claims made in your points evaluation when you complete your Expression of Interest. Points are granted based on a variety of factors, including your age, your English competency, qualifications, and experience in your chosen field. The more desirable you are as a member of Australian society, the more points you will have. For example, you'll be granted more points for a Ph.D. than a high school diploma. If you do not have 65 points, you aren't eligible for an Australian working visa. Continue upskilling in your chosen field until you have enough points to be eligible. Get the required health exams. Most applications will require that you can prove you won't be a health risk to the Australian government or public. Talk to your doctor about getting a full examination and a certificate that proves you are eligible to immigrate to Australia. Your doctor will know which tests they need to run in order to prove that you pass the health requirements. Your health requirements will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth. As such, there's no checklist of conditions and diseases which will prevent you from being granted a visa. Your family members may also have to meet this health requirement, even if they're not immigrating to Australia with you. Submit an Expression of Interest form online. The Expression of Interest (EOI) is a free form that indicates to the Australian Government that you are looking to immigrate to Australia. It's not a visa application but may allow you to find someone willing to sponsor your application. Follow the instructions on the Expression of Interest form through the Skillselect portal. Make sure everything you write in the EOI is true and provable, or else you may not be able to apply for an Australian working visa for up to 10 years. You may be able to skip this step if there is an employer in Australia who wants to sponsor your application, with the understanding that they will employ you when your visa is approved. This is a Direct Entry steam visa, which has a slightly different process to this visa application. For more information, see here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186/direct-entry-stream#Overview Wait to receive an invitation to apply. Once you've submitted your Expression of Interest, you'll need to wait for an invitation to apply for a visa from Skillselect. It can take up to 2 years for your EOI to be processed, so you should continue working and upskilling in your chosen field to increase your chances. It can often take several months for your EOI to be responded to. Make sure you update the form as your circumstances change or improve so that it remains accurate when it is considered. If you receive an invitation to apply for a visa, you will have to do so within 60 days. It may help to begin organizing all of the required paperwork and evidence needed for your visa application before you receive this invitation. The invitation isn't a guarantee that you'll be granted a visa. There'll be specific eligibility criteria that you need to prove in your visa application before it is approved. Get a valid passport from your country of origin. You'll need a valid passport to identify yourself when applying for a visa. Contact the relevant government department of your country to get a valid passport that proves that you are who you say you are. Renewing a passport can often take several months, so you should make sure it's up to date and valid before you receive an invitation to apply for an Australian working visa. The process of applying for a passport will vary between different countries around the world. Look online for more information specific to your country. Collect a police certificate detailing any criminal history. If you have a criminal background, you likely won't be allowed to immigrate to Australia. As such, you'll need to provide a police certificate from every country where you've spent more than 12 months in the last 10 years. Contact the police departments for each of these countries and follow their process to get this character document. If you have served in the military of any country, you'll need to provide service records and discharge paper as well as the police certificates. If you're under 26 years of age, you only need to supply a police certificate from every country you've lived in since you turned 16. You'll need to use these documents to complete and prove the validity of Form 80 and Form 1220. Form 80 can be found here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/80.pdf. Form 1220 can be found here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1221.pdf Pass an English competency test. In order to prove that you are a competent speaker of the English language, you'll provide proof that you've passed an approved English language test. Information on several of these tests can be found here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/competent-english. Choose one of the tests, book an appointment to complete it, and reach the required score to assist in your application. If you're a citizen of the United Kingdom, the USA, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland, you can use a valid passport from your country as proof of English competency. The test results will only be valid for 3 years. After 3 years, you'll need to retake a test in order to prove your competency. Sign the Australian values statement. As you'll be living and working in Australia, you're required to have an understanding of Australian values and principles. Read through the Australian values statement and make sure you're prepared to sign it if your visa application is approved. The Australian values statement can be found here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/australian-values The Australian government has put together a book that discusses and describes life in Australia. You can find this book here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/support-subsite/files/life-in-australia/lia_english_full.pdf Gather character, identify, and English competency documents for your spouse. If you're moving to Australia with your spouse or significant other, you'll need to gather all of the same documents for them. Talk to your spouse and help them collect character documents from the police, an English competency test, a valid passport, and a copy of your marriage certificate. If you are in a de facto relationship with a partner, you will need to register your relationship with an Australian State or Territory, or be able to prove you have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months. Get in contact with the Department of Births, Deaths, and Marriages to find out how to register a relationship in your chosen Australian state. Collect identity documents for any dependents moving with you. If you have children or dependents moving with you to Australia, you'll need to collect documents for them as well. Make sure you have a valid passport for each of your dependents, as well as character documents from the police if they are over 16. If your dependent is over 18, they'll also need to complete an English competency test. You also need to prove that your dependents are dependent on you. For a dependent under 18, complete form 1229, which can be found here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1229.pdf For a dependent over 18 years of age, you'll need to complete form 47A, which can be found here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/47a.pdf You also need to prove that dependents over 18 years of age are dependent on you. This proof could include proof that they live with you, their tax documents, or proof that they are currently studying. Create an ImmiAccount through Skillselect. Once your EOI has been accepted and you're invited to apply for a visa, you'll be able to create an ImmiAccount. Log into your Skillselect account and click on the “Apply for visa” button to create an account. ImmiAccount will handle the actual application process for your visa. The login page for ImmiAccount can be found here: https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login Your ImmiAccount password and login won't be the same as your Skillselect account. You'll need to create a new login and password for ImmiAccount. You'll only be able to create an ImmiAccount once you have been invited to apply for a visa. Fill out the application form and attach any documents. Log into your ImmiAccount and select the “New Application” button to begin your application. Answer any questions that appear in your application and begin attaching all of the documents required for your application. You will need to attach all of the documents and evidence you have collected, including copies of you and your family's passports, English competency tests, police certificates, medical certificates, and anything else you have used in the application to this point. Any other information required should be easily accessible, such as your name and contact information. Check your ImmiAccount often to see if any “Actions required” appear. These will tell you what you're missing from your application. Fix this as soon as you can. If anything changes with your application or your life status, update it immediately. This includes a change of address, e-mail address, passport details, or a change in your situation. Pay the application fee. Use your credit card, PayPal, Union Pay, or B Pay account to pay the fee as soon as you can, as this is the last step before your application is submitted. The fees for a working visa in Australia start at around $4000 Australian dollars, which is roughly $2900 USD. Depending on your status, the number of dependents you have, and a variety of other factors, the fee associated with your application will change. If you receive another invoice for a second installment, security, or a bond, you should pay it as soon as possible. The application charge won't be refunded if your application is refused, so make sure everything is completely accurate. Check your ImmiAccount regularly until your visa is approved. It can take several months for your application to be completely processed. Check online regularly to see if there's anything you have missed, or where your application is in the process. If your visa is approved, you will be given a visa grant number and a date when your visa begins, after which you'll be able to work in Australia! If your visa is rejected, you will get an explanation for the reason why it was refused, as well as an update on whether or not you can contest this refusal.	Work in a role from the list of eligible skilled occupations. Have your skills assessed by the relevant authority. Make sure that you have more than 65 points of eligibility. Get the required health exams. Submit an Expression of Interest form online. Wait to receive an invitation to apply. Get a valid passport from your country of origin. Collect a police certificate detailing any criminal history. Pass an English competency test. Sign the Australian values statement. Gather character, identify, and English competency documents for your spouse. Collect identity documents for any dependents moving with you. Create an ImmiAccount through Skillselect. Fill out the application form and attach any documents. Pay the application fee. Check your ImmiAccount regularly until your visa is approved.
https://www.wikihow.com/Cut-an-Orange	How to Cut an Orange	To cut orange wheels, place your orange on a cutting board so the ends are facing out. Then, cut off the top and bottom ends of the orange using a sharp knife. Slice off the first wheel from 1 of the exposed ends of the orange. Continue to slice the orange until you've made your way from one end to the other.	Hold an orange firmly on a cutting board. Make sure you have a good grip with your fingers so the orange doesn't slip while you're cutting it. Cut the orange in half using a sharp knife. Cut starting at the stem-end of the orange (the top of the fruit that was attached to the tree), and ending at the blossom-end (the bottom of the fruit). Set the two orange halves skin-side up on the cutting board. The inside part of the orange should be facing downward. Use the knife to cut each half into three equal wedges. Angle the knife toward the center of the orange when you're cutting to create the wedge shapes. If you want more wedges, make the wedges smaller and make three angled cuts instead of two. Place an orange on a cutting board so the two ends are facing out. Use your fingers to hold the orange firmly in place. Cut off the top and bottom ends of the orange using a sharp knife. Cut off enough of the ends that the inside of the orange is exposed on both sides. Slice off the first wheel from one of the exposed ends of the orange. Place the blade of the knife on the orange, about a ¼ inch (.6 cm) from one of the ends, and cut straight down until the knife hits the cutting board. Let the orange wheel fall onto the board. Keep slicing the orange until you’ve made your way from one end to the other. Try to slice each wheel so it's the same thickness as the one before it. Don't apply too much pressure on the knife when you're cutting the wheels or they may lose their shape. Use a sharp paring knife to cut off the ends of an orange. Make sure the inside of the orange is exposed on both ends. Set the orange on the cutting board so one of the exposed ends is facing down. The other exposed end should be facing up toward you. Use the paring knife to remove the peel. Starting with the blade at the upward-facing end of the fruit, bring the knife down to the cutting board, following the curve of the orange and removing the peel in the process. Let the section of peel fall off and repeat the process all the way around the orange until the whole peel is removed. Hold the peeled orange in one hand over a bowl. Hold the paring knife in your other hand. Use the knife to cut the orange into segments, using the membrane as a guide. The membrane is the white lines that run from the top to the bottom of the orange. The fruit in between each membrane line is one segment. Throw away the membrane and collect the segments from the bowl. If there are any seeds attached to the segments, remove them using the knife.	Hold an orange firmly on a cutting board. Cut the orange in half using a sharp knife. Set the two orange halves skin-side up on the cutting board. Use the knife to cut each half into three equal wedges. Place an orange on a cutting board so the two ends are facing out. Cut off the top and bottom ends of the orange using a sharp knife. Slice off the first wheel from one of the exposed ends of the orange. Keep slicing the orange until you’ve made your way from one end to the other. Use a sharp paring knife to cut off the ends of an orange. Set the orange on the cutting board so one of the exposed ends is facing down. Use the paring knife to remove the peel. Hold the peeled orange in one hand over a bowl. Use the knife to cut the orange into segments, using the membrane as a guide. Throw away the membrane and collect the segments from the bowl.
https://www.wikihow.com/Scrapbook	How to Scrapbook	To scrapbook, start by choosing a theme and picking out the pictures you want to include. Then, find an album and paper that coordinates with the colors and theme of your photos. When you're ready to put a page together, arrange your background paper and borders on top of a page, then trim and mat your photos by gluing them to slightly larger pieces of paper to “frame” them. Next, write captions or journal-style entries to identify dates, places, and people. Finally, add embellishments like stamps, stickers, or little charms to match your theme.	Choose your theme. Speaking simply, the theme is the underlying purpose or idea holding your scrapbook together. If you've decided to make a scrapbook, you may already have a theme in mind. If you do not have a theme, though, you should start by picking one. A theme will determine the photographs you choose, as well as the album and embellishments. Possible themes include: Family vacations High school or college accomplishments Family reunions Family holidays Times spent with friends Military career Sort through your photographs. With your theme in mind, sort through any photo collections that may contain photos fitting with that theme. Begin with your most recent photos and work your way backward through time. Look for photographs that are clear and avoid any that seem blurry. Note that you do not need to use an entire photograph. In all likelihood, a portion of your photos will be cropped. As a result, if you find a photo with a background element you do not want, you can still use it for your scrapbook if that element can be cleanly cut off. Choose as many photos as you like during this stage. If you have too many, you can narrow your selection down later. Organize your photographs. Sort through the photos you pulled and arrange them into categories. Each category should then be broken down into pages, and each page should have roughly four to six photographs assigned to it. Note that if you plan on making a smaller scrapbook, you may only need two or three photos per page. You can create multiple pages for each category, if desired. For example, if you are making a scrapbook of a specific family vacation, your categories may include something along the lines of: trip there, beach, hotel, museums, return trip. If you have a lot of beach pictures, you can have multiple pages for those pictures. The idea is merely to group similar photos together within the scrapbook overall. Get a general idea of the layout you want. You do not need to plan out each page ahead of time, but at minimum, you need to determine how many pages you want, how many photos you want to have per page, what colors and embellishments you might want to consider using, and how many journal entries you plan to include. Keep a notebook filled with possible layout ideas. Write possibilities down as you brainstorm, then eliminate the ones that you don't like and choose your favorite after sorting through the notebook. This is also a good time to determine if you want to make separate title pages to separate your categories or if you want to place titles directly on photo pages. If you want to be even more thorough, you can also tentatively arrange photos on your working surface to get a general idea of how each page may look. Find an album. Scrapbook albums can usually be found at craft stores and most stores that sell stationery. Standard albums are square with 12-inch by 12-inch (30.5-cm by 30.5-cm) pages. You can also find pocket albums with 6-inch by 8-inch (15.25-cm by 20.3-cm) pages. In a pinch, you could also use a standard 3-ring binder for your scrapbook, but an actual album is preferable since the binding and pages are better suited for scrapbooking. Consider your theme when choosing your scrapbook. For example, if your scrapbook will contain photos from a beach vacation, a light blue or sand-colored album might be a good idea. On the other hand, for a scrapbook featuring photos of your friends, you might want to consider a more playful color. Also note that you may be able to find albums with titled covers for some major events, like weddings and military enlistments. Choose paper that works well with your pictures. When you look for a paper to include in your scrapbook, take along a few of your photos and compare them to your options. Plain colored paper should coordinate with the colors in your photos, and patterned paper should coordinate with both the colors and theme of your scrapbook. You will usually need two sheets of background paper and one to two types of matting and deco paper per page. Select embellishments. Your embellishments should coordinate with the theme of your scrapbook. Standard embellishments include 3D embellishment stickers, rubber stamps, and charms, but you can get as creative as you want. Choose embellishments that add visual interest but are relatively flat. Otherwise, your scrapbook may not close well. Stickers and stamps are among the easiest embellishments to match your theme since there are so many varieties available. Consider the color of your paper and pictures when choosing embellishments. Try to choose items that work with your current color scheme. Choose the type of adhesive you would like to work with. There are a variety of adhesives suitable for scrapbooking, but each has its pros and cons. Spray adhesives are good for covering large areas without making the surface seem "wet." It is also good for use with sheer material. Let the adhesive dry after application until it feels tacky before sticking two items together. Foam tape and dots are sticky on both sides an can be trimmed to size. These adhesives also add dimension to the objects they adhere to, making scrapbook pages more visually varied. Pressure-sensitive dots are ideal for heavy embellishments because they have tremendous bond strength. Glue sticks are, perhaps, the most convenient to use. Make sure that you use a minimal amount and choose a glue stick labeled "acid-free" or "safe for photos." Liquid glues work well for embellishments and are easy to apply, but they can make pictures and other paper embellishments wrinkle if too much is used. Double-sided tape has minimal bond strength but is suitable for pictures, paper embellishments, and small, light items. Sensibly arrange your workspace. Once you have your supplies in hand, you need to arrange them in a way that makes it easy for you to access each item when you need it. Keep all your photos in one spot and organized in the order you will use them in. Set aside embellishments in the furthest corner of your work area until you are ready to use them. Arrange your background paper and borders. Place one scrapbook page in front of you and arrange your background paper on top of it. You will usually use a couple of sheets to add dimension to your page, but occasionally, you might get away with using one sheet. Avoid using more than three sheets of background paper. Adding too many may make the background too busy and distracting. When arranging the background sheets, there should be some overlap between them, and they should rarely be evenly aligned with one another. Once your background pages are in place, position any paper borders over them, arranging them to your liking. At this stage you should not glue the paper down. Crop your pictures. Determine a photograph's focal point and determine how much of the background is necessary. As long as the focal point and essential details remain, you do not need to worry about cropping too much. Consider the best size and shape for each photo based on the layout of each page. As a general rule, it is wise to have doubles of your photographs, just in case you make a mistake. Mat each photo. Choose a type of paper that varies from your background. Cut a section of paper that is just a bit larger than your newly cropped photo and place the photo on top. Do not glue anything down yet. Consider leaving extra matting paper below the photo or to the side so that you can write a caption for the photo later on. Leave room for other elements. Arrange your matting and photos on the background paper already on your scrapbook page. Position the elements so that others you have yet to add, like journal blocks or embellishments, can still fit. Usually, elements of a page should touch or overlap with other elements. Avoid having pieces of the page look as though they are “floating” or separated from the others. Glue everything down. Use a little of your chosen adhesive to secure everything onto the page. Work from top to bottom. Glue the photos to the matting and, once that dries, glue the matting to the background paper. After that dries, glue the background paper to the page itself. You should wait for the page to dry before adding any writing or embellishments. Brainstorm about what to write. Consider what these memories mean to you and what you want others to understand by looking through them. Brainstorm ideas in a separate notebook before deciding on anything. Write a draft of each caption or journal block before writing it into your scrapbook. Add captions, as desired. If you left room for captions next to each photo, use a no-bleed pen or extra-fine tip permanent marker to write a descriptive yet brief caption that identifies the photo. Captions can include information about dates, locations, and people in the photo. Include a few longer "journal" entries. These entries are not specifically related to a photo but make a general statement about the overall category those photos fall into. Consider using stories, personal quotes, anecdotes, or fitting lyrics and famous quotations in your journal entries. Decide whether to type or hand-write. Most words in a scrapbook are handwritten, but some prefer to type, print, and paste blocks of text, instead. Handwritten words can be sloppier and you may make a mistake as you write them, but they have a more personal and meaningful effect. Printed text is cleaner but may seem cold and impersonal. Consider placement. Embellishments should touch or overlap other elements of the page, like pictures and matting, without covering important details. Avoid placing embellishments in an area that is separated or distant from other page elements. Typically, no element on the page should appear to “float” in space. Add stickers. You can use just about any type of sticker, but ones with acid-free adhesives are best. Scrapbooking stickers, also called 3D embellishment stickers, are especially fitting since they add a little bit of dimension to an otherwise flat page. Your stickers should match the theme of your scrapbook or category. For instance, shell stickers work well for beach vacations, stickers of footballs or baseballs work well for documenting an athletic activity, and heart or rose stickers work well for romantic themes. Use stamps. Stamps can be personalized almost as easily as stickers. Choose rubber stamps that match your theme and color inks that coordinate with those already on your page. Test the stamp on a separate sheet of paper before stamping it onto your scrapbook page. When stamping the page, make sure that the image is evenly covered with ink and stamp it on a hard, even surface. Hold the stamp securely on the sides and do not rock it back and forth. Allow the image to dry before touching it. Otherwise, you may smear the ink. Cut embellishments out of deco paper. You can cut your own simple shapes and designs out of decorative paper that coordinates with the color scheme of each page. In addition to deco paper, you could also use colored cardstock. You can hand-draw and hand-cut your shapes if you trust the steadiness of your hand. Alternatively, you can use a die cutter or paper punch that has an interesting shape. Attach stationery tags. If you did not leave room for a caption beside your photos, you can still add basic identification information by attaching stationery tags to the corner of a photo. Paper stationery tags can be written on with a smear-proof pen or marker. Attach the tag to the corner of the photo by using a small amount of adhesive on the tip of the attached ribbon or string. Let the tag itself hang loose. Get creative. You can use nearly any relatively flat object for a scrapbook embellishment. Make sure that the item does not contain anything that could be potentially harmful to your photos, though. Good non-traditional ideas include pressed flowers, buttons, ribbon bows, locks of hair, magazine cut-outs, and headlines from current newspapers. Be cautious when using metal embellishments. Never attach the metal directly to the photo since it can cause damage to the photograph over time.	Choose your theme. Sort through your photographs. Organize your photographs. Get a general idea of the layout you want. Find an album. Choose paper that works well with your pictures. Select embellishments. Choose the type of adhesive you would like to work with. Sensibly arrange your workspace. Arrange your background paper and borders. Crop your pictures. Mat each photo. Leave room for other elements. Glue everything down. Brainstorm about what to write. Add captions, as desired. Include a few longer "journal" entries. Decide whether to type or hand-write. Consider placement. Add stickers. Use stamps. Cut embellishments out of deco paper. Attach stationery tags. Get creative.
https://www.wikihow.com/Stain-Furniture	How to Stain Furniture	To stain furniture, use an oil based stain because it is less likely to streak. Mix the stain thoroughly and apply it with a foam brush or soft rag. To make sure you leave a good finish, only keep a little stain on the brush at a time to prevent dripping, and make the final pass with the grain to prevent streaks. Then, let the stain soak for 4-5 minutes and wipe it off with a rag. If it isn't as dark as you wanted, apply a second coat.	Decide if you want to stain over the current color or start from scratch. If the wood is unfinished, which means it is its original color, then you'll simply prepare the wood and add stain. If it is already stained you have a decision to make -- either stain over the old color or remove the stain and start over. If there is a finish on the furniture (a clear coat that protects the wood), you must remove this before starting. If you're adding a darker stain to a lighter piece, you can generally add this new stain over the old one without having to remove the original color. Remove or cover up any non-wood hardware on the furniture. Stain can change the color of metal handles, knobs, and hinges permanently. They are best removed before beginning. If the metal cannot be removed then use painter's tape to carefully cover it all up. Plastic, glass, or rubber should be similarly removed to prevent accidental discoloration. Breakdown larger furniture into smaller pieces if possible. To get the most even and total coverage you should stain each part of the furniture individually. This prevents missing areas around joints or corners as well as stain pooling up along edges or in cracks. While not strictly necessary, this step will ensure the most professional finish. Sand the whole piece with medium-grit (100-120) sandpaper. Work in the direction of the grains to avoid making scratches. This means that you sand parallel to the lines in the wood, not against them. If the piece is large you can use an orbital sander with 120 grit paper to work more quickly. If the furniture is very worn, go at it with a coarser sandpaper (80 grit or so) until you have it nice and smooth. You can then move to the medium-grit paper. The lower the number on the sandpaper, the coarser (rougher) the grit. Use a clean cloth to wipe off the dust between sandings. Simply wipe off the wood dust as you work, making your sanding easier and more effective. A tack cloth is the best material, as it attracts the wood dust. Use a finer-grit sandpaper, around 220 grit, to smooth and polish the surface. Sanding opens up microscopic pores in the wood. The stain can then soak into these holes, changing its color permanently. For very delicate pieces, work up to 220 grit slowly. Go from 150 to 180, then 200, then 220 or higher for a perfect surface. If the furniture is already stained and the color is still there after sanding, you will either need to continue sanding with a coarse-grit paper or use a chemical stripping agent to remove the old color Clean the wood with mineral spirits. This will bring out the wood's natural color, which will give you a better and richer color once the stain is applied. Simply use a clean rag or sponge to wipe the whole thing with the spirits, then wipe them off with another clean rag. Apply a wood conditioner for softer or difficult-to-stain woods. Even the easiest to stain wood -- oak -- could use a little wood conditioner for a better coat. Wood conditioner, which is easily applied with a paintbrush or clean sponge, should be left to dry for 10-15 minutes. It is essential for furniture made from: Alder Aspen Birch Maple Pine Fraser Ceder Wipe the entire piece clean to remove any last dust or wood conditioner. Right before you start staining, give everything a quick wipe to prevent any dust or dirt from being accidentally stained over. Consider a chemical stripper of you want to drastically change the furniture's color. If the piece is already stained dark black, for example, and you want a honey color, you'll likely be sanding all day just to get started. The alternative is a chemical stripper which, though messy, will remove the majority of coloring. To use one, purchase a stripper labeled "wash away" or "no cleanup," then move your furniture to a well-ventilated area: Put on gloves and eye protection. Apply a thick coat of chemical stripper on the entirety of the wood. Let the stripper sit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use a putty knife to scrape away the stripper, working in the direction of the wood grain. Scrub away any last stripper with steel wool. Sand the furniture with a fine-grit paper (200 or higher) once it is dry. Choose a water or oil based stain, depending on your desired finish. While there are some hybrid stains, most people buy either water-based or oil-based stains. Water-based stains are non-toxic and easy to clean, but can cause some streaking if you're not careful. Oil-based stains are easier to apply evenly but produce stronger fumes and can be tough to clean. If the piece of furniture can easily be moved outside, to the garage, or to another easy-to-clean area, go with oil-based stains. Get a clean paint brush, sponge, or foam brush. You want something absorbent but soft. Foam brushes, especially those with a pointed edge to get in the corners, are your best bet. Clean, soft rags and towels will work as well, though they will be permanently colored by the stain. Open and stir the stain thoroughly. Make sure that is well mixed, following the instructions on the can. Be sure to keep the top as well, as you can close up the stain and save it for another project if there is any left. Test your stain in an inconspicuous area to ensure it looks good. Find a hard-to-see area and apply a little stain in an square. Make sure it doesn't drip, then wipe it off after 4-5 minutes and check the color. Keep an exact measurement of the time you let it sit for. How does this stain work with the wood's natural color? If you want the finished piece to be darker than this test area, you'll need to leave the stain on longer before wiping it off. If you want the finished piece to be lighter you'll have to wipe the stain off faster than you did for the test area. Wipe the furniture with a damp cloth, then sand with 220 grit paper if using a water-based stain. As wood absorbs moisture, it slightly expands. By getting the surface damp and then sanding down the small burrs or bumps that rise up, you better prepare the wood for your water-based stain. While optional, this step can even help with oil-based stains. It will result in a smoother finished surface. Apply the stain in a thin, even coat. Use your rag, sponge, or brush to apply a thin, even layer of stain over the entire piece. Work slowly, only keeping a little stain on the brush at any one time to prevent dripping or pooling. It should be thin enough that the stain isn't running, just sitting on the furniture. Make a final pass over the stain in the direction of the wood grain. You can apply the stain any way you want, but your last pass of the brush or rag should be along the direction of the grains. This ensures a beautiful, non-streaky final finish. Wipe the stain off with a clean cloth after it has soaked for your desired time. Remember -- the longer you leave it on, the darker the color will be. While you can choose your timing based on your own desires, make sure that it doesn't dry on the wood. If it is starting to dry, wipe it off immediately -- you can also apply a second coat later on if you desire a darker color. Let the wood dry for 6-8 hours. Check the stain's instructions to see if you need to wait even longer, though most stains will be dry within half a day or less. Try to place the wood in a well-ventilated area to speed up the process and prevent fumes from collecting. Apply a second coat of stain after the first has dried for a darker color. This second coat generally doesn't need to be left on for long. Simply apply it just like the first coat, wiping off after 2-3 minutes. Let it all dry for another 6-8 hours before moving on. Do not add this second coat until the first has finished drying. Finish the furniture after you're done sanding to protect it. Stain is for looks, but it will not protect the wood from moisture, oils, or warping. For that you will need to finish the final piece, protecting both the wood and your stain. You can choose from the following options: Water-based polyurethane Polyurethane Wood lacquer Finishing oils Use a water-based polyurethane for a safe and easy finish. Using a clean cloth or foam brush, simply apply a thin, even coat of polyurethane to the wood, then let it dry. Don't worry if it looks milky or white as you apply it -- it will dry clear. Water-based polyurethane is, by far, the easiest finish to apply, though it is less protective of water or oil than other finishes. Use a traditional polyurethane for a strong, protective coating. Apply 2-3 thin coats, making sure there are no bubbles on each one. Let each coat dry, then sand it with 220 grit paper before applying the next one. This is the thicker, almost plastic-like clear coating on many tables and desks. If your furniture is going to be prone to nicks, scratches, and scuffs, this is your best bet for protection. Try out a wood lacquer for a gorgeous, soft finish on high-end furniture. To apply it, use a paint sprayer and aim for an even coat throughout. A natural-bristle brush can also be used, but you must work quickly, as lacquer dries quickly. Let it dry, using a brush to remove any bubbles or unevenness, then sand with fine-grit (220 or higher) paper. Apply 2-3 more coats, sanding between each one. Lacquer is harder to apply but worth the effort for expensive pieces. Apply a penetrating oil, like tung, Danish, or antique oil, for a light and beautiful finish. Apply a little bit of oil to a clean rag and rub it into the dry, stained wood. Let it soak according to the oil's instructions, then rub it off with a clean rag and apply 1-2 more coats. If the piece is subject to lots of wear and tear, this is not a very protective coating. You should use something more durable.	Decide if you want to stain over the current color or start from scratch. Remove or cover up any non-wood hardware on the furniture. Breakdown larger furniture into smaller pieces if possible. Sand the whole piece with medium-grit (100-120) sandpaper. Use a clean cloth to wipe off the dust between sandings. Use a finer-grit sandpaper, around 220 grit, to smooth and polish the surface. Clean the wood with mineral spirits. Apply a wood conditioner for softer or difficult-to-stain woods. Wipe the entire piece clean to remove any last dust or wood conditioner. Consider a chemical stripper of you want to drastically change the furniture's color. Choose a water or oil based stain, depending on your desired finish. Get a clean paint brush, sponge, or foam brush. Open and stir the stain thoroughly. Test your stain in an inconspicuous area to ensure it looks good. Wipe the furniture with a damp cloth, then sand with 220 grit paper if using a water-based stain. Apply the stain in a thin, even coat. Make a final pass over the stain in the direction of the wood grain. Wipe the stain off with a clean cloth after it has soaked for your desired time. Let the wood dry for 6-8 hours. Apply a second coat of stain after the first has dried for a darker color. Finish the furniture after you're done sanding to protect it. Use a water-based polyurethane for a safe and easy finish. Use a traditional polyurethane for a strong, protective coating. Try out a wood lacquer for a gorgeous, soft finish on high-end furniture. Apply a penetrating oil, like tung, Danish, or antique oil, for a light and beautiful finish.
https://www.wikihow.com/Take-Care-of-a-Siberian-Husky	How to Take Care of a Siberian Husky	To take care of a Siberian husky, make sure it's getting lots of exercise through activities like running, swimming, or going to the dog park since huskies are very high energy. However, avoid exercising your husky when it's over 65 degrees Fahrenheit outside since the breed is prone to overheating. If it's a hot day, exercise before sunrise or after sunset. In addition to regular exercise, make sure you brush your husky regularly to keep its coat healthy and avoid shedding. Just don't shave your dog since huskies use their fur to regulate their temperature.	Be prepared to give your dog adequate exercise. These high energy dogs need a lot of exercise; it's what keeps a husky happy. Healthy huskies need the equivalent of three to five miles of exercise four days a week. This exercise can be in the form of running, playing with other dogs, swimming, or one-dog sledding type sports, such as bikejoring, skijoring, or swimjoring. Build up the amount of exercise you give your dog slowly. Your husky may have the energy to run all out the first day, but it doesn't have the conditioning. When biking, go slow enough that your husky can run at an easy pace. Most dogs start out much too fast and need to be managed until they settle into a comfortable pace. It's easy to out run a husky on a bike, which puts your husky at risk for overheating, becoming overwhelmed because the pace is too fast, and fearing the exercise. Only exercise your husky during cool weather. Temperatures above 65ºF (18ºC) are bordering on too hot to exercise. If there is a breeze, low humidity, or your dog can easily cool off in water, you may be able to exercise at these temperatures. On hot summer days keep exercise to a minimum or only exercise before the sun comes up and heats up the day. Consider altering outdoor exercise with indoor exercise in an air-conditioned building. Keep in mind that racing sled dogs do not work very hard unless the temperature is below 20ºF (-6ºC). Keep warm weather exercise sessions less than 3 miles (4.8 km) long (less than 5K). Watch closely for signs of overheating. Siberian huskies have multiple coats of fur, and were bred for working in the snow. Keep this in mind when you take them out on a warm day. These include: excessive panting, excessive salivation, bright red tongue and gums (or pale gums), thick saliva, weakness, collapse, and vomiting, which is sometimes bloody. You never want to get your dog to this point, as heat illness (stroke, overheating) can cause serious consequences to your husky. Give your husky plenty of cool water to drink. Some dogs enjoy ice as well. There are ways to prevent heatstroke starting with using common sense. If you are uncomfortable in hot weather your husky, with its thick fur coat, is probably much more uncomfortable to the dog, than you. If you exercise your husky using a head halter, make sure your husky can open its mouth wide enough to pant normally. The mouth is the only pathway for reducing body heat. The larger the dog, the harder it is to stay cool. Dogs stay cool through panting. Larger dogs have more body heat to get rid of, so it takes time for them to cool. If you have a large husky – 60+ pounds(27kg+) – take extra precautions in the heat. Brush your dog regularly. This will help keep its coat in good condition but it will also reduce the amount of fur it sheds in your home. Consider using a Furminator comb, which is an incredibly effective tool for getting the loose fur from the top coat and undercoat. Keep bathing to a minimum. You can bathe your husky, but sometimes a good brushing and a waterless shampoo is all your dog really needs. When you bathe your dog with shampoo you break down the protective skin oil. Only bathe when absolutely necessary (like after an interaction with a skunk) and make sure his or her fur dries thoroughly to prevent skin problems. Never shave your husky. Fur helps regulate body temperature. Most huskies have a double coat, which consists of a thick undercoat and a guard hair layer. These layers keep your husky warm and cool. Only under medical circumstances should you ever shave a husky. The skin of Nordic dogs is like that of light skinned humans, meaning that it does not protect them from the sun's harmful rays( no pigmentation). When you shave your husky you leave the skin unprotected from the sun. Also, every time you shave your husky, the undercoat will grow back less successfully and the outer layer of fur will grow back less soft and more apt to get tangles and knots. Protect the dog's paws. Always check the pads after exercise to make sure they are not damaged by the road or trail surface. Hot surfaces can burn the paw pads severely and rough surfaces can cut the pads. Look carefully at each pad and between each toe. Also double check the nails to make sure they are not so long that they inhibit natural foot movement. Also, dog paws have a few sweat glands. The warm foot, which becomes moist from the sweat gland, against cold snow can lead to the snow getting stuck between your husky's paws. This can cause skin damage. Dog booties can be used to stop this from occurring but if you don't have them, just make sure the dog's paws are clear of snow right after exercise. Use the proper tools to train a husky. The best tools for walking a husky are the front clip harness and the head halter. Harnesses also work, but if you want your dog to learn to pull use the harness for that job. Your husky can learn to pull in a harness and walk nicely with a head halter. Train with the right equipment. Don't let your husky pull you with while wearing a collar or head harness (even just down the road on your skateboard). The dog can damage its neck and back. Always use a harness. Train a solid recall. Training your dog to come when called is called a recall. Recall training should only be practiced outdoors if your dog is on a leash. To be successful in the recall start practicing it as early as possible. Force-free methods - methods that reinforce with things your dog likes - work best in creating a solid recall. One of the best way to train a solid recall is to start training your husky at a young age. Make sure it's on a leash in an enclosed area (fenced in yard) and at a time when it is more relaxed—after a moderate amount of exercise is a great time. Keep some small tasty treats (tiny slivers of cheese or cooked chicken breast) in your pocket. Let your dog wander around then call its name saying “Come (insert name).” When he or she comes praise it and give it a treat. Work on this training for short periods of time (5-10 minutes) over the course of a week. When your dog is coming consistently to you, you can stop giving treats and only giving praise when it comes to you. It's an invaluable and potentially lifesaving lesson to learn. Every time your husky has a chance to run free, either by choice or by accident, it will learn that running free is fun and it will want to be free to run as much as possible. Limit this from a young age if possible. Manage the high prey drive of a husky. This is especially important around cats and other small animals the dog might mistake for prey. In order to manage your dog's natural instinct to hunt, you need to keep your dog contained, train it to respond to your commands immediately, and give it outlets for its energy. Keep a husky contained for its own safety and the safety of other animals in your area. Keep it on a leash when in public and make sure any yard it is free to roam in is fully fenced. Train your husky to come on command. If your dog is stalking prey or actually attacking another animal, it's important to be able to get the dog's attention and stop it from continuing bad behavior. Voice control over your dog's actions is of utmost importance. It can take a lot of work to get your dog really well trained but it is worth the effort. Give your dog a lot of outlets for its energy and its prey drive. On a regular basis play fetch or tug of war with your dog, or simply give it lots of toys to play with. If you can focus the dog's energy on fake prey instead of real prey, you lessen the chance the dog will attack another animal. Sometimes a husky and cat relationship can work out without a glitch, but often it is a constant management situation. If you are really skilled at keeping doors shut, gates locked, litter boxes cleaned, and protecting your cat at all times, you can probably have a cat and husky in the same house. If you have poor management skills, don't get a husky if you already have a cat. Huskies and cats live together peacefully if they are each properly socialized and introduced to one another. Feed your husky a balanced diet. In general, it's best to feed your husky a mixture of commercial dog food and raw food. They need a diet high in protein, so feeding a well-balanced commercial food combined with raw red meat can fulfill their dietary needs. You could spend a good portion of your life researching dog food and trying to figure out what is best. If you are unsure about what to feed your dog, consult with your veterinarian. He or she should have a good suggestion for you. Never feed a dog cooked bones! They can splinter and injure, or kill, your dog. Raw bones, on the other hand, are great for a husky to chew on. Feed your husky a seasonal diet if it is an outdoor dog. A good rule to follow is to add fat and protein during the cold months and hard training, and to subtract fat and protein during the warm months. This may be as simple as feeding one brand of food in the winter and another in summer. Only feed after exercise. Feeding before exercise puts your husky at risk of gastric bloat and torsion. This serious condition can kill a dog. A good rule to follow is to feed 30 minutes after exercise or four hours before exercise. Provide water for your husky at all times. Every dog needs unlimited access to water in order to stay healthy and hydrated. This is especially important to remember in cold climates and cold winter months, when water dishes may freeze. Ether move your dog's water dish into a warm area that it can always access or invest in a water system that will not freeze. Enrich your husky's life with lots of activities. This will help to keep your husky happy. Most mushing dogs get several miles of exercise four times a week. If you don't mush full time, you need a little help keeping your husky happy. Enrichment means something that engages your husky in an activity that uses his or her brain. Bones, toys that can be stuffed with food, buster cubes, doggy daycare, long hikes, and dog sports are all great ways to keep a husky happy. Huskies are known as being escape artists. This really translates to a bored dog finding something better to do. If your husky is already an escape artist, or you want to avoid your husky learning to be an escape artist, they must get enrichment. Huskies are capable of learning agility, fly ball, Frisbee, and other dog sports besides mushing. One thing you can do to entertain you Husky is to design an agility course. Keep your husky healthy. Take your dog to get a veterinary exam on a regular basis. Your veterinarian can assess your dog's overall health and tell you what, if anything, to keep an eye on. Also make sure your dog is flea and tick free. Fleas can cause skin irritations and carry parasites. You have to be diligent about combing through your husky's dense fur coat to keep on top of a possible flea infestation. Huskies that live outdoors are at a greater risk of parasite infestations and diseases. Make sure your husky has flea, tick, and heart worm protection, and has an annual veterinary checkup. These issues are easily prevented with timely veterinary visits. Decide whether your dog will live inside or outside. Huskies can live indoors like any other breed. Even mushers have started building dog barns (small horse style barns) for their teams. It has been discovered that dog teams recover better sleeping in the warmer barn versus sleeping outdoors during training. With training, your husky can be taught to live indoors. Even though huskies function well in cold climates, they are not immune from the cold. You cannot leave a husky out in the cold all of the time. At the very least they need warm dog houses or other shelters to warm up from the cold. In addition, you certainly do not want to leave a husky outside during very hot weather. A husky's thick coat does not allow them to cool down enough to survive in hot weather. If you live in a warm climate, do not have your husky live outside, as it needs protection from the heat. Set up a warm dog house if your husky spends time outdoors. Huskies do get cold and need a warm dog house to head into during cold or rainy weather. The dog house needs to be weather proof including a leak proof roof and walls. It should be raised slightly off the ground (using bricks, paving stones, or treated lumber) so air can circulate underneath and to keep water from pooling. A blanket or dry straw (changed/washed weekly) should also be placed inside the house. In addition, the house should be small enough so the dog can retain body heat, yet large enough that it can stand and turn comfortably.	Be prepared to give your dog adequate exercise. Build up the amount of exercise you give your dog slowly. Only exercise your husky during cool weather. Watch closely for signs of overheating. Brush your dog regularly. Keep bathing to a minimum. Never shave your husky. Protect the dog's paws. Use the proper tools to train a husky. Train a solid recall. Manage the high prey drive of a husky. Feed your husky a balanced diet. Feed your husky a seasonal diet if it is an outdoor dog. Provide water for your husky at all times. Enrich your husky's life with lots of activities. Keep your husky healthy. Decide whether your dog will live inside or outside. Set up a warm dog house if your husky spends time outdoors.
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Responsible-Pet-Parent	How to Be a Responsible Pet Parent	To be a responsible pet parent, make sure to select a pet that's suitable for your lifestyle and living space. If you're a busy person with a small apartment, for example, you may want to stick to small pets, like hamsters or goldfish. Once you choose a pet, set aside safe play areas or keep harmful objects, such as electrical cords and toxic chemicals, out of its reach. You should also feed your pet a high-quality food and make sure it has enough things to keep it stimulated, like chew toys or a scratching post. Additionally, check your local laws to see what type of licenses and IDs are required for your pet. Many areas, for example, require you to register dogs, cats, and exotic animals with the health department.	Select a pet that fits your living space and circumstances. One of the most responsible things you can do is to view pet parenthood as a commitment. Every pet is unique, so not all pets are suitable for potential parents. The size of your living space matters as well as the resources you have available to care for a pet. Consider how much time and energy you have to commit to a new pet. Pets differ a lot between breeds. For instance, a Chihuahua requires less space and exercise than a big dog like a Great Dane. Factor in the food costs, messes, and vet costs different breeds have. Exotic animals like parrots and big lizards are pretty expensive and often require roomy cages. Smaller animals, including hamsters and fish like guppies, are good choices for beginners. Keep in mind other people you live with, particularly children. Some dogs are better family pets than others. Animals like birds often bond with one person and may bite others. Find a responsible shelter or rescue to get a pet. Once you have an idea of what kind of pet you want, look for pets in your area. Read about these places online, then tour the facility to make sure they treat animals well. Ask sellers questions, including about the adoption fee. Then, spend time meeting some of the animals to judge their temperament. For pedigree pets, talk to the breeder. Ask about the dog's history and view its living conditions. A responsible breeder will be able to give you extensive documentation about the dog's background. Read reviews from other customers along with the shelter or rescue's mission statement, but don't adopt until you have had a chance to visit the place in person. There are pet-finding services online that allow you to search for animals in your area. Choose a reputable site where shelters and rescues list their pets, such as Petfinder at https://www.petfinder.com// Take care of any paperwork you get when adopting a pet. Store important documents in a safe location in your home. Choose a pet and come up with a name for it. Once you pick a pet to care for, the fun of being a pet parent begins. Come up with a name that fits your pet. Find inspiration in your pet's appearance and personality or try adopting a name you heard elsewhere, such as on TV. Pick a name as soon as possible so other people know what to call it. For some animals, such as dogs and cats, you will need the name to legally register your pet with the local government. Veterinarian offices also ask for a name to keep track of your pet's health. Don't rush while choosing a pet. Looking is difficult when you see a wide range of cute pets to choose from. Responsible pet parents wait until they're sure they have found the right pet for them. Remove harmful and fragile objects from your pet's play space. You may hear other pet parents talk of “dog-proofing” or “cat-proofing” their home. Part of being a parent is protecting your pet from danger, which includes sharp objects, exposed cords, toxic plants, and anything else it can swallow. Pets are very curious, so put away breakable items and block off areas that are off-limits. Any type of pet has the potential to do damage to your home. Rabbits, hamsters, birds, and even lizards may damage valuable clothing, electric wires, and other items. Create safe spaces and play areas. For example, plants like azaleas and tulips are toxic to curious cats and dogs, so don't leave them out for your pet to explore. Install fences and cages to contain your pet at home. Backyard fences are great limiters for dogs. If you have an existing fence, check it over to ensure your dog can't escape. If you don't have a fenced yard, use a leash to let your pet outside. For other animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and rodents, get a solid cage with plenty of play space. If you're keeping fish , choose a big tank that holds plenty of water and find a level surface to set it on. Clear out space for cages and tanks. They need to be set on stable surfaces out of reach from children or other pets. Know your pet's needs before placing their cage. Some pets, like parrots, like being close to the activity. Others, like prey species and fearful animals, need a quiet corner to rest in. Crates are safe for dogs and cats when you need to leave home, but give your pet plenty of exercise and attention once you are able to let it out. Create safe bedding out of blankets or other material. Your new pet needs a place to sleep. Many pet stores sell pet beds for cats and dogs, but you can also stack blankets and pillows for them. Other types of pets need substrates covering the bottom of their habitats. Common substrates include newspaper, wood shavings, and dirt. If you keep reptiles and amphibians, research your pet's natural habitat. Pet supply stores sell clean substrates. Hermit crabs like sand, for instance. Geckos like dirt, but iguanas and snakes often appreciate newspaper. Aspen wood shavings are perfect for many snakes and rodents. Rodents and rabbits also like paper and hay. Birds stay on perches, but line the bottom of bird cages with clean newspaper. Change the lining when it gets dirty or shredded. Use aquarium gravel and soil substrates for fish. Clean the gravel out with an aquarium vacuum about twice a month. Submit registration and identification forms for your pet. If you have a dog or cat, print out a name tag to put on its collar. Most pet stores have tag printing services that make this quick and easy. For all types of animals, fill out adoption papers or registration forms according to the laws in your area. Many areas require you to register with the government as a pet owner. Dogs, cats, and exotic animals often need to be registered even if you aren't keeping them as service animals. Ask the shelter or rescue agency what forms you need to complete to become an official pet parent. Shelters and rescue agencies will often help you fill out registration forms. If you're still unsure what you need to do, ask them or get information at your local Animal Control office. Consider getting a microchip for your dog or cat to track it in case it gets out. Veterinarians will also put a microchip in a pet bird or put a tracking band over its leg. Choose a carrier or harness big enough to transport your pet. You never know when you will need to take your pet outside, so be prepared in advance. For most pets, all you need to do is buy a carrier that provides enough space for your pet to rest comfortably. For pets that don't fit in crates, get a safety harness for your car to keep your pet safe while you're transporting them. Have a carrier or harness available in case you need to take your pet to the vet. Pet supply stores sell plastic crates and fabric carriers. Crates are good for most animals, including birds, lizards, and rodents that would destroy soft carriers. For fish, you will need to get a plastic bag or small fish bowl. Fill it with water from the tank and get your fish back in its regular habitat as soon as possible. Take your pet to a trusted veterinarian when it is sick. When you first bring your pet home, look around your area for good veterinarians. Make sure they are trained to treat the type of pet you own. Take your pet in for any required vaccinations and establish a yearly check-up schedule. Whenever you notice your pet acting unusually, schedule an earlier appointment. Don't forget to get your dog or cat spayed or neutered if the shelter or rescue didn't take care of it for you! Search for vet offices online to view credentials and customer reviews. Look for an office you feel comfortable taking your pet to. The longer you live with your pet, the more you recognize how it acts during an ordinary day. Any behaviors out of the ordinary are signs that something is wrong. For instance, your pet may stop drinking water when it's sick. Come up with a plan in case of a natural disaster. Think of places to take your pet in case you are unable to leave them at home. Many pets end up getting left behind during emergencies. You can avoid this by finding out where the emergency shelters are in your area. Also, look for pet-friendly hotels and friends and family members who don't mind letting you visit with your pet. Some community shelters don't accept pets. Make sure you know which shelters are safe for pets. You likely won't get a chance to do this if you get caught in a sudden emergency like a flood. Prepare yourself well for whatever emergencies your community is prone to. Keep important documents like pet identification, immunization, and ID tags in a waterproof container to take with you. Establish a contact plan in case you are unable to care for your pet. A sudden change of plans, such as an illness, may prevent you from taking care of your pet. Have a plan and discuss it with people you know, including your friends, family members, and anyone living with you. Pick a few trusted people to check up on your precious pet and even take care of it as needed. Come up with some basic ideas, such as who will care for your pet and where it will stay. Sometimes plans are difficult to remember during busy, stressful times, so remind others of the plan until you are certain they know what to do. Feed your pet a healthy diet. Care for your pet's health by purchasing a quality food and avoiding excessive treats. The dietary needs of your pet depend on its size and species. Healthy dog and cat kibble, for instance, consists of few grains and lots of meat. Read food labels carefully and limit fattening treats to keep your pet well-nourished. Pets like birds and rodents often eat pellets supplemented with fruits and vegetables. Rabbits and similar animals need plenty of hay to supplement their diet. For meat-eating animals like snakes and lizards, you can purchase mealworms and other small insects at pet supply stores. Snakes eat mice, while many lizards also need leafy greens and some vegetables. Fish flakes are fine for fish, although you still need to avoid overfeeding them. Fish need a small amount of flakes about twice a day. Look for pet food that has ingredients you recognize and can pronounce. Provide clean water at all times for your pet. No matter what kind of pet you have, it needs plenty of water. For most pets, set up a bowl and refill it every day. Rinse it out with soap and water to keep it clean. If you have a pet like a hamster, hang a water bottle inside the cage. If you leave your pet outside, make sure they have an accessible source of water at all times, especially during warm weather. Fish need fresh water, so remember to clean fish tanks and bowls every couple of weeks. Have a filtration system in your fish habitat to keep the water fresh. Treat fresh water with conditioner to make it safe for your fish. Bathe your pets if they get dirty. Most pets keep themselves clean, so you don't need to worry too much about bathing. Dogs are the most likely type of pet to get dirty and require a bath about every 3 months. Wash your pet with warm water and a species-specific shampoo from the pet store. Use a flea shampoo to remove unwanted guests from dogs and cats. Cats, birds, reptiles, amphibians, rabbits, and \|rodents all bathe themselves. If you see your bird or lizard in its water bowl, for example, it is cleaning itself. Some animals, such as birds and bearded dragons, also enjoy warm baths outside of their cages. Bathe sick or dirty animals with a mild soap and small amounts of water. Animals that are unused to water, such as rabbits, will get scared and stressed if you immerse them. Fish live in water, so they practically bathe themselves! Fish don't require special treatment unless they look sick, such as if you notice parasites to pull off them. Keep them clean by keeping the tank clean. Groom your pet by brushing its fur or trimming its nails. Brush out furry pets as often as once a day to eliminate mats and remove shed hair. Dogs, cats, birds, and some lizards also need to have their nails clipped to a safe size. Look for the colored vein inside the nail to avoid nicking it. Give your pet a nice treat for making it through the grooming session. Metal pet combs work well for grooming pet hair. They aren't as bendable and flimsy as most plastic combs. The kind of nail clipping tool you need differs slightly depending on the type of pet you have. Visit a pet supply store to get the right tool. For lizards and some birds, you can even adapt human nail clippers. Use dental products to keep teeth and beaks clean. If you have a dog or a cat, clean its teeth yourself to cut down on costs. Brush your pet's teeth once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste, if possible. Also, give your pet chewable items like dental treats or chew toys and offer hay to rabbits and rodents. Rabbits and rodents like hamsters chew on toys and food to grind their teeth down. Birds hone their beaks on perches. Without the proper equipment, teeth and beaks overgrow, leading to health problems. Buy toys to keep your pet stimulated. Caring for a pet involves more than its physical health. Pets love to play, but some pets need a selection of toys to stay stimulated. Most pets enjoy having chewable toys, toys they can chase, and toys that dispense treats. Look for toys that make noise and keep your pet engaged even when you're not around. Keep in mind your pet's needs. A cat, for instance, may scratch your couch if you don't give it a scratching post. If you're handy with crafts, try making your own toys, such as a puzzle box for birds or a platform for hamsters. Fish like exploring, so try putting a colorful background behind the fish tank. Then, put plants, a plastic shipwreck, and other toys in the aquarium gravel. Move the toys on occasion to keep your fish happy. Show your pet plenty of affection by playing with it. To be a good pet parent, spend as much time as you can with your pet. Play with it as much as possible. If it likes physical attention, try letting it come near you, petting it, or giving it a belly rub. Every pet tolerates affection differently, so find activities that your pet enjoys. Some pets don't like to be handled much. Many reptiles and rodents, for instance, don't like to be held for very long. If it doesn't like being held, it might like toys or let you feed it. Not all cats like to be held or touched a lot. It's important to read your cat's signals so you don't get scratched or bitten. For example, play fetch with your dog or bird. Dangle a toy for your cat to chase. Take other types of pets out of their cages and tanks to spend time with them. Train your pet with treats and praise. Being a pet parent involves teaching your pet how you want it to behave. Your pet won't know at first, especially if it is very young. To train your pet the right way, offer it a treat when it does what you want it to do to reinforce the good behavior. Scolding and hitting it is mean and usually doesn't help your pet learn. Train dogs and cats to do tricks, stop making noise, or stay out of trouble, for instance. Go slowly, rewarding your pet with a treat or click each time they make progress. Keep in mind that younger pets are easier to train than older ones. Remember to toilet train your pet, such as by teaching your dog to go outside or your cat to use a litterbox. Other animals are also trainable. For example, birds and lizards can even be toilet trained if you're patient. Introduce your pets to new experiences and other people slowly. Pets need time to adapt to new situations. Your pet may be a little timid, especially when you first bring it home. Keep it in a quiet space and don't force it to interact. Gradually expose it to the new situation until it grows comfortable enough to approach. Know your pet. Some pets are better alone. Some types of fish, for instance, do better alone in a tank. Using treats helps entice a pet to approach a new situation. You may need to work slowly, giving your pet a treat each time it looks at the new thing or steps towards it, for instance. Always supervise your pet while it socializes. Pets get startled just like you might in a new situation. This often leads to bites or scratches.	Select a pet that fits your living space and circumstances. Find a responsible shelter or rescue to get a pet. Choose a pet and come up with a name for it. Remove harmful and fragile objects from your pet's play space. Install fences and cages to contain your pet at home. Create safe bedding out of blankets or other material. Submit registration and identification forms for your pet. Choose a carrier or harness big enough to transport your pet. Take your pet to a trusted veterinarian when it is sick. Come up with a plan in case of a natural disaster. Establish a contact plan in case you are unable to care for your pet. Feed your pet a healthy diet. Provide clean water at all times for your pet. Bathe your pets if they get dirty. Groom your pet by brushing its fur or trimming its nails. Use dental products to keep teeth and beaks clean. Buy toys to keep your pet stimulated. Show your pet plenty of affection by playing with it. Train your pet with treats and praise. Introduce your pets to new experiences and other people slowly.
https://www.wikihow.com/Boil-Lasagna-Noodles	How to Boil Lasagna Noodles	To boil noodles for a delicious lasagna, start by setting a large pot of water to boil. Once the water starts to boil, add the noodles to the pot and stir them continuously for 2 minutes so they don't stick to the sides. Then, leave the noodles to cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring them occasionally. You'll know they're ready when the noodles are soft but not mushy. Drain them into a colander and let them cool before you add them to your lasagna.	Bring water to a boil. Fill a large pot with a good amount of water. Be careful not to overfill it though, as the water could end up boiling over. Make sure the water is boiling before moving on to the next step. Don't forget to add a dash of salt. Add lasagna noodles to the water. Firstly, check your recipe to see how much lasagna noodles are needed. You might find yourself with leftovers. Have your wooden spoon ready as you need to start the next step instantly. Take care when dropping your noodles into the pot. Otherwise, you could get splashed by boiling water. Stir continuously for the first two minutes. Lasagna noodles are large and flat, lending themselves towards sticking together. The first two minutes is crucial, if you want to avoid being left with clumps of noodles. Not stirring could result in the noodles sticking to the bottom of the pot. Separate the lasagna noodles effectively by using a chopstick. Don't let the water boil over. After you've added the lasagna noodles, you will notice the water simmering. When it returns to a boil, adjust the element to keep the water boiling consistently. This should help to prevent the water spilling out. Stay attentive as this could occur later in the process too. Using a lid is more likely to cause a boil over. Covering the pot will trap steam, causing starch molecules to overheat. Stir the pot two or three more times. Now that the water is boiling, the lasagna noodles should stay spaced apart. Don't risk them sticking together or sinking to the bottom, so return to the element and stir a few more times. If noodles are heating too close together, they won't release starch properly. The starch can turn to glue, leaving you with unusable lasagna noodles. Check that 8-10 minutes have passed. Be precise with your timing. After 8-10 minutes you can begin the final stages of the process. Read the packaging as the suggested cooking time could vary. Take a piece out and test if it's ready. Ideally, a properly cooked lasagna noodle has a hint of firmness and offers some resistance to your bite. Does it taste good? Now you can switch the element off. Lasagna noodles should be cooked to the 'al dente' stage, an Italian term which means 'to the tooth'. This is when the middle isn't too hard, soft or mushy. Pour the lasagna noodles into a colander. Make sure they have been drained of all water. Release them slowly into the colander because the noodles could potentially still stick together. Be cautious when draining the lasagna noodles to avoid getting hit by steam. Leave the lasagna noodles to cool before adding them to your dish. You can do this by laying them out on paper towels. Now your noodles will be easier to use when you go to make lasagna. For better results, instead of paper towels you can place lasagna noodles on oiled baking paper.	Bring water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles to the water. Stir continuously for the first two minutes. Don't let the water boil over. Stir the pot two or three more times. Check that 8-10 minutes have passed. Take a piece out and test if it's ready. Pour the lasagna noodles into a colander. Leave the lasagna noodles to cool before adding them to your dish.
https://www.wikihow.com/Serve-a-Ping-Pong-Ball-With-a-Topspin	How to Serve a Ping Pong Ball With a Topspin	Serving a ping pong ball with topspin is a great way to catch your opponent off-guard and set up a powerful hit. If you're right-handed, start by standing at the right corner of the table. Then, toss the ball up with your left palm. When it reaches about chest-height, hit the top of the ball by curling your paddle over it. This will cause the ball to stay low after it bounces and then rebound upwards when your opponent hits it.	Serve a ball with no spin. This ball will not travel as fast, but if you are just learning how to play ping pong, it is important you can do this first. Hit the ball near its equator, which is the line just through the exact center of the ball. Make sure you hit it with your racket at a 90 degree angle to the ball. The ball will travel forwards and have little to no spin. Try putting spin on the ball. You can do this after you have mastered a serve with out a spin. Brush your racket on the ball as you serve. This is rubbing the ball slightly as you hit it. The direction of your brush will put a different spin on the ball. Spin is imparted onto a ball by using a tangential brushing action with your racket. Do this with your racket at less than a 90 degree angle. Use an upwards, downwards, or sideways movement. The faster a racket brushes a ping pong ball, the faster it will spin. The ball will spin faster and travel less distance with a good brush. Using paddles or rackets with reverse rubbers can help you impart more spin on the ball, instead of using pimpled or anti-spin rubbers. Learn the different types of spins. There are three main types of spins in ping pong and each has their own technique during a serve. Topspin is produced by starting your stroke below the ball and brushing the racket on the ball in an upwards and forwards motion. Backspin is made by starting your stroke above the ball and brushing the racket against the ball in a downwards and forwards motion. Sidespin is produced by brushing your racket in a sideways motion as you hit the ball. Learn the effects of putting spin on the ball. Using different types of spin have different effects during a pin pong game. When you put topspin on a ball it increases the downwards pressure on the ball, so it will stay low after it hits the table. When this hits the opponents racket, the ball will rebound in an upward direction. When you impart backspin onto a ball, it will bounce up more after it hits the table and not go as far forwards. When a ball from backspin stroke makes contact with the other player's racket, the ball rebounds in a downwards direction. When you put side spin on a ball, it will bounce off your opponents racket in the same direction your racket was travelling when you hit the ball. For example, if you brushed left, the ball will rebound to the left. Get into position for a serve. Where you stand will depend on which hand is your dominant hand. If you are right handed, you will stand at the backhand corner of the ping pong table. Put your right foot forward and bend your knees slightly. This is ready position for a serve. You will have your racket in your right hand and will have the ball in your left hand, if you are right handed. If you are left handed, you will stand at the front corner of the ping pong table. Put your left foot forwards and bend your knees slightly. You are now in ready position for a serve. If you are left handed, you should serve with your racket in your left hand and the ball in your right hand. Throw the ball in to the air from an open palm. International ping pong rules state that a ball must be thrown straight up into the air when it is served. You may not serve the ball directly from your hand. When you do this your hand should roughly be at chest level. You must throw the ball into the air at least six inches, or about the height of the net. You should not toss the ball up and forwards or up and backwards towards you. Aim to toss it straight up into the air. Hit the ball for your serve when it comes back down. You should serve when it gets to about chest or belly level. If you serve the ball too low, it won't have enough height on the serve to go over the net. If you serve the ball too high, it might bounce too high or too fast after your serve. Hitting it about chest level or just below will allow the ball to accelerate forward and bounce off of the table and over the net. Strike the top part of the ball, above the ball's equator. If you strike the ball in the wrong spot, it won't spin or it won't have the right type of spin. Keep your paddle at a less than 90 degree angle. Angle the paddle towards the net for a top spin. Remember, hitting the top part of the ball is the first part of putting topspin on a ping pong ball. If you hit the ball at the equator, (right around the middle of the ball) it won't have any spin, and might travel too far forward before hitting the table. If you strike the ball from below you might put a backspin on it, but the goal here is to get a topspin. A top spin will allow a ball to bounce on the table close to the server, away from the net. Brush the ball in an upward and forward motion as you strike, aiming to hit your side of the table as far from the net as possible. This will propel the ball forward quickly. Brushing is how you rub your paddle against the ball quickly as you serve or return. Brushing in different directions will cause different kinds of spin. Remember, brushing your ball upwards and forwards will result in a topspin. If you put a topspin on a ball during a ping pong game, it will stay low after it bounces on the table. This will make the ball harder to hit for your opponent. When your opponent hits a ball with a topspin, it will rebound in an upwards direction.	Serve a ball with no spin. Try putting spin on the ball. Learn the different types of spins. Learn the effects of putting spin on the ball. Get into position for a serve. Throw the ball in to the air from an open palm. Hit the ball for your serve when it comes back down. Strike the top part of the ball, above the ball's equator. Brush the ball in an upward and forward motion as you strike, aiming to hit your side of the table as far from the net as possible.
https://www.wikihow.com/Hold-Your-Mini-Lops	How to Hold Your Mini Lops	To hold your mini lop, approach it slowly from the side so it doesn't feel startled or threatened. Next, slip one hand under the bunny's chest and position your other hand around its bottom. Then, hold the back legs with the hand supporting its bottom to prevent kicking and gently lift the rabbit off the ground. Finally, place the rabbit in your lap or hold it firmly against your chest while continuing to support the chest and bottom.	Do not hold your mini lop right away. As cute as your mini lop may be, do not rush to pick him up and hold him in your arms. In the wild, the only time rabbits are held is when they are being picked up by a predator—you certainly don't want your mini lop to see you as the enemy! Give your mini lop time to become comfortable with you and see you as someone he can trust. If you need to move him from one area to another, place him in a pet carrier or sturdy cardboard box that has some tasty treats in it. Leave it in his area for a few days so that he does not automatically associate it with going to the veterinarian. Spend quiet time with your mini lop. Your mini lop will be good at sensing if you are about to pick him up. To prevent him from associating your presence with only being picked up, spend some quality bonding time with him. For example, sit calmly in his pen and let him come to you. Rabbits are independent animals, so you should give your mini lop the freedom to approach you when he feels like it. When you are in his area, do not pay attention to him. While you wait for him to approach you, consider reading a book or magazine. The more quiet time you spend with him, the more your mini lop will become comfortable with your presence. Fortunately, lop-eared rabbits enjoy interacting with their owners, so it probably won't be long before your mini lop comes to you for attention and affection. Approach your mini lop with food. This is not as simple as just walking up to your mini lop. Making a direct approach may look aggressive to him, causing him to run in the opposite direction. Instead, walk towards him at a slight angle, as if you are about to walk right past him. To prevent weight gain, offer food that is part of his normal daily food ration. You may need to stop a short distance away from your mini lop and let him come to you. Eventually, he may allow you to walk up to him with the food. You can also offer him food while you are sitting in his area. Identify and touch the 'hold' areas during bonding time. When you hold your mini lop, you will mainly be touching his chest, shoulders and bottom. Keep in mind that your mini lop is very perceptive—if you touch him only when you want to hold him, he will soon associate being touched in those three areas with being picked up. Your goal should be to touch him in those areas, regardless of whether you want to hold him. Just like your mini lop needs time to become comfortable with you, he also needs time to adjust to being touched. As you sit and spend time with him, touch him all over his body. The more you touch the three 'hold' areas without picking him up, the less likely he will think you're about to pick him up and hold him. Be patient with your mini lop. It may take a while before he begins to enjoy your touch. Place one hand under your mini lop’s chest. By now, you may be getting a little anxious to pick up your mini lop and hold him. Not so fast! You don't want to risk weakening your bond with him by picking him before he's ready. Get him used to the action of being held by putting one hand under his chest and applying gentle pressure. Approach his chest from his side so your hand reaches from one side of his chest to the other. Use just enough pressure so he feels what you're doing, but not so much that his feet leave the ground. Your mini lop may want to run away. If he does, let him do so and try again later. When he stops running away, gently apply more pressure with your hand until his feet barely leave the ground. Place his feet back on the ground after a few seconds. Give him a few treats with your other hand. Place your hand on your mini lop’s bottom. When your mini lop feels comfortable with his front feet being off the ground, practice lifting his back feet up. Cup your hand around your mini lop's bottom so your fingers wrap slightly under his body between his to back legs. Add a gentle yet increasing amount of pressure to lift up his back legs. His front legs should still be on the ground. Return his back feet to the ground after a few seconds. Give him treats with your other hand. Place both of your hands in the ‘hold’ position. Now it's time to support his chest and bottom at the same time. Place one hand under your mini lop's chest and run your other hand down his back before positioning it around his bottom. Lift only his front feet off the ground and then return them to the floor. Keep some treats on the ground that he can eat when you put his front back down. You can try lifting his back end up, too. Let your mini lop run away if he wants to. Your mini lop may want to move away when you are touching him. That's okay! Let him get away without going after him. If you try to grab him, he may associate being touched with something negative—this would make it harder for you to pick him up and hold him. Your rabbit needs to continue to feel comfortable around you. When you give him freedom to move away, he will be more relaxed around you. Give him treats to encourage him to stay nearby as you are touching him. Pick up your mini lop. It may have taken a few weeks, or maybe even longer, to get your mini lop comfortable with the idea of being held. Your patience has finally paid off! With your hands positioned under his chest and around his bottom, gently pick your mini lop off the ground. Start with holding him just slightly off the ground, then work up to holding him in your lap. You may want to hold his back legs with the hand that's supporting his bottom. This would prevent him from kicking his back legs out. Your mini lop should not be wriggling or struggling when you hold him. If he does, let him go. Start by holding him for a few seconds, then slowly increase the amount of time you hold him. Give him a treat when you can pick him up and hold him without him struggling. Hold your mini lop firmly. Your mini lop will want to feel secure in your arms. To do this, keep a firm hold on his chest and bottom. If your mini lop does not feel safe and secure when being held, he may begin to panic and struggle to escape, which could result in you getting scratched. If your mini lop begins to struggle, he may start kicking his back legs, which are surprisingly strong. He may kick them so hard that he breaks his back. Hold your mini lop frequently. Although your mini lop may not always feel comfortable being held, you should aim to hold him as often as you can (and as often as he will allow). It would be ideal to hold him every day, but keep in mind that your mini lop may not want to be held that often. Read his body language. If he initiates affection with you, he may be in the mood to be held. Frequent handling may help your mini lop maintain a calm temperament, but only if he is comfortable with the idea in the first place. Teach your children how to hold your mini lop. As tiny as mini lops can be, they were bred to be hardy enough to be held by young children. However, children can be rough. If you have children, teach them how to properly pick up and hold your mini lop. Do not allow your children to run with your mini lop in their arms. This could be very frightening to him. Keep a close eye on your children when they handle your mini lop.	Do not hold your mini lop right away. Spend quiet time with your mini lop. Approach your mini lop with food. Identify and touch the 'hold' areas during bonding time. Place one hand under your mini lop’s chest. Place your hand on your mini lop’s bottom. Place both of your hands in the ‘hold’ position. Let your mini lop run away if he wants to. Pick up your mini lop. Hold your mini lop firmly. Hold your mini lop frequently. Teach your children how to hold your mini lop.
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Companies-to-Send-You-Free-Stuff	How to Get Companies to Send You Free Stuff	Many companies are willing to send out coupons or even free stuff to keep their customers happy. All you have to do is ask! The easiest way to ask for free stuff is to send an email directly to the company. You can usually find their email on the “Contact Us” section of their website. In the email tell them how much you like their products, then ask if there are any samples or coupons they can send you. Another easy way to get free stuff is sign up for company newsletters. Sign-up forms can also be found on the company website. Once you sign up, you'll likely be sent coupons and notices when the company is having sales. Best of all, many companies will send you coupons for free items on your birthday!	Find the company's address. Check on the product itself first. Look on the back and the bottom of the product. You can also try searching for the company's address on its website. Using snail mail will get you noticed because fewer people use it today to talk to companies. Write a personal note. Tell them why you are a fan of their products. You can even share a fun memory. Be sure to specify whether you want a free sample, a coupon, or both. It also helps to handwrite the note, especially in a fun card. For instance, you could write: "Hello! I really enjoy your cookies. When I was a kid, my parents would bring them with us when we went camping. We'd eat them under the stars, and eating one now brings back those good memories! I don't suppose you'd be willing to send me a sample or coupon? Thanks either way! Best, Robert." Send your letter. Address the envelope, and don't forget to add your return address so they can send something back to you. Stamp it, and put it in the mail. Wait for a response. Be patient. It can take several weeks to get a response, if you get one at all. Consider adding an email address or phone number to the letter. This might get you a quicker reply. Find the company's contact form. Sending an email is not as personal, but it can still nab you free stuff. Often, companies will have a contact form or email address posted on their website that you can use to contact them. Usually, there's a link at the bottom of the website that says something like "Contact" or "Contact Us." Flatter the company. Since you can't personalize an email by writing it by hand, you can make up for it by flattering the company. Make sure to tell them why you like the product, and you can even offer a short personal anecdote to seal the deal. Also, don't forget to ask for a sample or coupon at the end. You could write: "Hi, I love your cleaning products. They smell so great, and they don't have all those nasty chemicals. I know you see a lot of complaints, so I thought I'd send you a happy note! Given how much I love what you do, I don't suppose you have any samples or coupons to send? Thanks, Rachel." Wait for a response. It may take a little while for the company to get back to you, so don't worry if they haven't gotten back to you in a day or two. It can even take several weeks for a company to respond. Be sure to check your email's spam folder. Sometimes emails end up there by mistake. Research your favorite companies. Many companies offer a freebie for signing up with them. You might get the company to send you a coupon for a free appetizer from a restaurant, for instance, or a 50 percent off coupon at a store or for a product. Check on the company's website to see if they have an offer. Check for birthday offers, as many companies will offer freebies around your birthday. Sign up for the newsletter. When you find companies with a good deal, sign up for the newsletter. You'll often need to give some basic information and an email address to sign up for a newsletter. If you don't receive any newsletters, check your spam folder. If they end up there, be sure to make them as "not spam." Unsubscribe, if you prefer. Once you're subscribed to a newsletter, you should get a reward, but you'll get regular emails from the company. If you don't want that in your inbox, look for the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email. However, keep in mind that many newsletters will send out freebies or coupons from time to time. Newsletters typically have a link towards the bottom that says "unsubscribe." If you click on that, you'll be taken to a separate page where you can begin the process. Notice a problem. Sometimes, things slip past quality control, and you end up with an inferior product. If that's the case, you have reason to complain to the company. More often than not, the company wants to keep you happy, and it will send you a freebie or a coupon. You should only complain when you actually have a problem. It's the ethical thing to do, and you'll be alerting the company to problems with the product. Don't tamper with the product in order to make it look defective. Most companies will be able to tell if you do this, and it won't score you any freebies. Complain to customer service. Find the contact form on the company's website. Direct the complaint to the customer service department, which usually handles complaints. Lay out the problem, being very clear about what you want out of the situation. Also, you may need to provide proof of purchase or even information about the batch, so keep the packaging on hand. If you want a freebie out of the deal, make that clear: "I noticed an issue with your product recently. It had a funky taste, like it was old. I was wondering if you'd be able to send me a replacement or a coupon for a new product." Be nice to get a better response. The old saying "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar" is a good one to apply to complaining. Yes, you want to make sure the company understands the problem, but you don't want to be mean or rude about it. The nicer you are about it, the more likely the company is going to go out of its way to help make your experience better. Don't say use rude or expletive language, no matter how angry you are. While you might still get a response, you'll likely only get the bare minimum. Customer service representatives are more willing to help and go the extra-mile for nice customers than for rude customers.	Find the company's address. Write a personal note. Send your letter. Find the company's contact form. Flatter the company. Wait for a response. Research your favorite companies. Sign up for the newsletter. Unsubscribe, if you prefer. Notice a problem. Complain to customer service. Be nice to get a better response.
https://www.wikihow.fitness/Do-an-Abs-Workout-in-a-Chair	How to Do an Abs Workout in a Chair	There are a few simple exercises you can do to work out your abs without leaving your chair. Sit on the edge of your chair, then lean back while contracting your abdominal muscles until your back touches the chair. Do 10 reps for a set. To work out your oblique muscles, hold your arms out at your sides and twist your body slowly to one side. Hold the position for 3 seconds and do 5 reps on each side. You can also place your hands behind your neck and lower one elbow to your hip without letting go of your neck. Hold the position for a few seconds and do 5 reps on each side.	Find a sturdy chair. To do an abs workout on a chair, you need a flat, stable chair without arms. A dining room or kitchen chair works well – avoid chairs with wheels because they aren't stable and can roll out from under you. If you only have access to chairs with wheels, see if you can lock the wheels to keep the chair from moving. Putting it against a wall may also help. Sit at the edge of your chair. Take a moment to ensure you have proper posture with your shoulders back, your shoulder blades pressed down alongside your spine. Sit on your sitting bones, not your tailbone. Your knees should be bent at roughly right angles with your feet flat on the floor. If you're not able to do this, your chair may not be the correct height. Take a moment to get comfortable in this position and connect with your breath. Take a couple of minutes to breathe deeply, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Place your arms by your sides. Pin your arms firmly to your sides, and rest your hands on your thighs. Make sure you are positioned slightly in front of the back of the chair. Your back should not be right up against the back of the chair. Lean back in your chair. Contract your abdominal muscles and lean back until you are almost touching the back of the chair. Your shoulders may graze the back of the chair, but be careful not to put any weight on it. Be sure to keep your back as straight and flat as possible. Keep your shoulders back and your shoulder blades in line along your spine. Rise slowly back to an upright position. Engage your abdominals and raise yourself to your original position, keeping your back flat and straight. Sit up in a slow, steady movement. Do 10 repetitions of this exercise while focusing on your breath. Sit on the edge of your chair. Move forward until your feet are resting flat on the floor and your knees are at right angles. Spread your feet so they are slightly more than shoulder-width apart. This will give you more stability for the twisting exercises that work the obliques, which are the muscles along your sides. Open your arms out to the side. Extend your arms straight out so that they are parallel to the floor. You can also do this exercise with your elbows bent and your hands resting on your neck. Choose the arm position that's most comfortable for you. Twist to the left and right. Slowly rotate your trunk, engaging your abdominals and keeping your back flat and straight. Keep your legs and hips straight, twisting from your abdominals. Twist to the right, hold the twist for about three seconds, then return to center, pause, and repeat the twist to the left. Do three to five repetitions of this exercise on each side. Place your hands behind your neck. From the same seated position, bend your right elbow and rest one hand on your neck. Then, stretch out your left arm and raise it over your head. Take a moment to connect with your breath and check your posture. Lower your right elbow to your right hip. Bend your upper body sideways – not forward or backward. You should feel a stretch or a pull along your left side. Only bend to the side until you feel the stretch, without trying to force yourself further. Keep your movement slow and controlled. Hold the contraction for a few seconds, then slowly return to center. Repeat the same movement with the left side. Lower your left elbow toward your left hip, stopping when you feel a stretch on your right side. Keep your back straight and make sure you're not crunching your shoulders. Pay attention to how the left side feels compared to the right. If you're able to bend further on one side than the other, this may indicate a strength imbalance. Do 5 to 10 repetitions of this exercise on each side, engaging your core continuously. Sit straight at the edge of your chair. Move your feet directly in front of you, keeping them flat on the floor with your knees and thighs together. For this exercise, you need a steady chair on a flat surface. If the chair is wobbly, you may have trouble completing this exercise. Press your hands on the seat of your chair. You may want to grip the edges of your chair for more stability. You need to be able to grip firmly and balance, so a chair with a seat cushion may not be ideal. Take a moment to connect with your breath as you engage your core. Lift your thighs off the chair with your arms. Flex your core and lift your thighs off the chair. Press down through your arms to lift your thighs off the chair about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm), or as far as you can. Check that your shoulders are back, not hunched forward. If this becomes too easy for you, then try straightening your legs out in front of you, and then lift yourself up so your thighs are not touching the chair. Hold the position for 10 seconds. Breathe deeply, keeping your back straight and keeping your abdominals engaged to hold the position. You can challenge yourself to hold the position longer, but make sure you can continue to breathe deeply. Return to a straight seated position. Lower your feet to the floor with a slow, controlled movement, bringing your body gently back down to the chair. Rest for 10 seconds and reconnect with your breath. Do five repetitions of this exercise. Pull your knees toward your chest on an inhale. From a seated position on the edge of your chair, engage your core and bring your knees to your chest, leaning back slightly. Keep your back straight. This advanced exercise is a variation on a Pilates posture that is normally performed on a mat. Only attempt this exercise if you are able to perform all the other exercises while maintaining proper form. Straighten your legs as you exhale. Lean back, almost to the point of touching the back of the chair, and straighten your knees to point your feet upward. Your legs and body should be in a "V" shape as you balance on your buttocks. Hold the sides of the chair if you need to for stability, or extend your arms out in front of you. You can hold this position for a few deep breaths, engaging your core. Contract your knees towards your chest. To complete the exercise, bend your knees and draw them up to your chest on an exhale, then extend your legs back out on an inhale. Continue this motion for 10 breath cycles, creating a pumping motion with your legs. Lower your feet to the ground and rest for a minute. Do 2 to 3 sets of this exercise.	Find a sturdy chair. Sit at the edge of your chair. Place your arms by your sides. Lean back in your chair. Rise slowly back to an upright position. Sit on the edge of your chair. Open your arms out to the side. Twist to the left and right. Place your hands behind your neck. Lower your right elbow to your right hip. Repeat the same movement with the left side. Sit straight at the edge of your chair. Press your hands on the seat of your chair. Lift your thighs off the chair with your arms. Hold the position for 10 seconds. Return to a straight seated position. Pull your knees toward your chest on an inhale. Straighten your legs as you exhale. Contract your knees towards your chest.
https://www.wikihow.com/Have-a-Healthy-Sex-Life-(Teens)	How to Have a Healthy Sex Life (Teens)	As a teenager, having a healthy sex life starts with making sure you're ready for sex. That means it's something you really want to do, and not because all your friends are doing it or you're being pressured by your partner. Once you feel that you're ready, look into safe sex practices, like using condoms to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. You can also research alternative birth control methods, like birth control pills, but keep in mind these do not protect against STDs. Having a healthy sex life, by the way, doesn't have to involve penetration. If you don't think you're ready to go all the way, it's perfectly fine to stick with other sexual activities, like heavy petting and oral sex.	Understand pregnancy. Whether you are male or female, you should educate yourself about pregnancy before any heterosexual activity. Here are a few basics that all sexually active people should know about pregnancy: Pregnancy can occur anytime that semen enters the vagina. Almost all pregnancies result from unprotected penetrative sex, with the penis in the vagina. Pregnancy is extremely unlikely during oral sex, anal sex, or non-penetrative sexual activities. Precum (a fluid the penis releases in small amounts when aroused) typically does not contain viable sperm. Unlike semen, precum is unlikely to cause pregnancy. Learn about sexually transmitted diseases. All types of unprotected vaginal, oral, and anal sex can spread sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). You can only get an STD by sharing fluids with someone already infected. However, many people have an STD that does not cause visible symptoms, and this can still be transferred during sex and cause major health problems (such as female infertility). The Center for Disease Control recommends annual STD testing for sexually active women under 25, and for men who have sex with men. Men who do not have sex with men are at lower risk, but should still be tested after risky sexual behavior. Some STDs can take six months or longer to show up on a test. If you and your sexual partner only have sex with each other, you only need to be tested once. Get tested again if you suspect your partner has had sex with someone else, or if either of you have used injected drugs with a shared needle. Use condoms. Condoms are the most common method of birth control among teens. They are cheap, easy to use, and protect you from both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Make sure you are using them correctly. Male condoms reduce pregnancy chance to 2% per year when used perfectly, but during typical use, mistakes or lapses increases this to 18%. Female condoms are slightly less effective, reducing the chance to 5% when used correctly. Do not use a female and male condom at the same time. Using condoms and one of the methods below is an excellent way to protect yourself and your sexual partner. Consider birth control pills. Birth control pills are very effective at preventing pregnancy when a woman takes one every day. They do not protect against STDs. "The pill" is available over the counter in many countries. In the U.S., you need a doctor's prescription. U.S. law prevents your doctor from telling your parents about your birth control. However, they may find out if you pay for it using your parent's health insurance. Birth control typically costs $15–$50 per month, so you and your sexual partner may be able to pay for it yourselves. These pills are very safe for most women, but may cause health issues if you have serious health issues related to your heart or blood. Smoking increases this risk. Birth control pills make your menstrual cycle more regular and may reduce unpleasant side effects, such as acne and cramping. Track the fertility cycle. Women are most fertile during ovulation and for a few days afterward. This usually happens on days 11–21 of a 28-day menstrual cycle, where day 1 is the start of menstrual flow. It's important to realize that most women do not have regular cycles, so you can't predict exactly when this happens in advance. This tells you when pregnancy is especially risky, but you shouldn't skip protection at other times of the month. Sperm can survive for a few days in the vagina, so sex before ovulation can still lead to pregnancy. To track this, keep a menstrual cycle calendar with signs of an approaching period. If you want to be extra safe, track your ovulation. Research other forms of birth control. There are many other forms of birth control available, from diaphragms to intrauterine devices. For more information, visit a reproductive health center such as Planned Parenthood, or talk to a doctor or gynecologist. Teens are exposed to many myths about birth control and STDs, so don't assume everything you've heard is true. The withdrawal method, where the man pulls out before ejaculation, is not recommended by most experts. While it does reduce pregnancy somewhat when followed correctly, there is a risk the man will not pull out in time, or change his mind after sex has started. This method also offers no protection against STDs. Decide whether you're ready for sex. Take some time alone to think through this decision. Ideally, you should answer "yes" to all these questions before you have sex: Do you and your partner understand how pregnancy and STDs work? Can you talk openly about the risk, and agree on a method or methods of protection? Do you and your partner trust and respect each other? Would your partner listen if you changed you mind and said "stop"? Are your personal values compatible with the sexual experience you're considering? Would your family and community be okay with this if they knew? If you answer "no," are you comfortable accepting that fact? Avoid sex for the wrong reasons. Sex can be a great way for two people in a healthy relationship to have fun and express their connection. This isn't always the reason sex happens, however. Be honest about why you want to have sex, and understand which reasons are no good: Only have sex when you and your partner genuinely want to. If one of you is pressuring the other, put this to a stop and wait until both of you are ready. Don't have sex because you think everyone else is doing it. Most high school students have not had sex, and the ones that do don't have sex very often. Don't have sex to save a failing romantic relationship. It won't work. Talk with your partner. Once you're confident you're ready for sex, talk to your partner. You need to talk about previous sexual experiences, possible STDs, what to do in the event of an unplanned pregnancy, and your views on abortion and adoption. Tell each other why you want to have sex. If you cannot talk to your partner about these topics, you may want to postpone sex until the two of you are able to have the conversation. Make sure you're on the same page about what sex means to your relationship. Is it just for fun? Do you love each other? Is this an exclusive relationship? Plan ahead. If it's the first time for one or both of you, or even just your first time with each other, you're going to need privacy and time to yourselves. Arrange your agreed-upon method(s) of protection in advance, so you don't miss an opportunity. Finding privacy can be difficult, but try not to do it in your car. This is illegal in some areas. Try to restrict yourselves to one of your homes, while there are no other people around. Take your time. There is nothing worse than a rushed first time. Go slow, and explore each other's bodies. Foreplay is necessary to help you become aroused and comfortable. This is especially important for women, as arousal causes the vagina to become lubricated. Without lubrication, penetration can cause significant pain. Go as far as you are comfortable. A sexual encounter can mean playing with each other with your clothes on, helping each other masturbate, or having penetrative sex. Enjoy each other however you both agree to. Doing something once does not mean you have to do it again. You and your partner are allowed to have a different comfort level on a different day. Have realistic expectations. Don't be mortified at a failure to orgasm, or at rapid ejaculation. These are common occurrences during first-time sex, or when you're feeling nervous. Also understand what a typical sexual experience is like, instead of believing what you hear in boasts, porn, or romance novels: The typical man lasts five minutes during penetrative sex before ejaculating. Some women take longer to orgasm than their partner, or have trouble achieving orgasm from penile-vaginal sex alone. They can still enjoy sex and may choose to orgasm through assisted masturbation or non-penetrative sex. Let each other change your mind. If you want to slow down or stop, say so. There's nothing wrong with feel nervous or uncomfortable, or even in pain. The best way to deal with this is to take a break and go back to something you're more comfortable with. You can try again when you feel ready, whether that means in five minutes or next month. Continuing intercourse with a partner who asks you to stop is morally wrong, even if it began as consensual sex. In many regions, this is legally considered rape or sexual assault. Talk about the experience with your partner afterwards. Did you enjoy yourselves? Was there anything that you especially enjoyed, or that made you uncomfortable? The more you can talk about it, the more comfortable you'll be with each other, and the more enjoyable your next sexual experience will be, if you decide to do it again. Understand healthy anal sex. Among some heterosexual teenage groups, most anal sex happens when men pressure or coerce women into trying it. Do not try anal sex if you do not want to. Understand that it is generally more painful than vaginal sex. Relaxation exercises and water-based lubrication can improve the experience. Roughly 10% of heterosexual couples and 66% of male homosexual couples (in the UK) practice anal sex regularly. Don't go all the way. You've determined that you enjoy being sexual with your partner, but are still not ready to have sex. Perhaps you're just not ready now, or you may have decided that you want to wait until marriage before you engage in sexual intercourse. If you are avoiding sex for religious or cultural reasons, understand that some of the practices in this section may be considered sex by your community's standards. Engage in heavy petting. What is it? Heavy petting is erotic contact between two people that stops short of penetrative sex (vaginal, anal, or oral). The risk of disease and pregnancy are greatly reduced, though there is still a very small risk in either case, depending on the level of intimate contact. Engage in non-penetrative sex. This can range from all-clothes-on "dry humping," to all-clothes off touching sessions including mutual masturbation and sexual satisfaction. Because orgasm is generally part of the process, it's safe to say this is sexual activity, and does carry a low risk of pregnancy or disease. However, neither result is likely. Neither partner should feel obligated to perform other sexual acts to avoid intercourse. Engage in oral sex. While oral sex can be pleasurable for both partners, it is not without its risks. Pregnancy is not an issue, but disease transmission is still possible. The CDC reports that over 60% of U.S. residents between the ages of 15 and 24 have had oral sex, compared to about 50% who have had vaginal intercourse. The CDC study also reports that patients visiting STD clinics have shown that 5-10% have gonorrhea in the throat, and can raise the risk for infection by chlamydia, herpes, syphilis, and cancer-linked HPV, and recommends using safe sex techniques when performing oral sex. Refrain from having sex. This may seem counter-intuitive to an article on having a healthy sex life, but consider this: if 2/3s of teenagers are engaging in sex, that means 1/3 are not. Also, abstinence does not mean not feeling sexual: it means not having sex. If this is the choice you and your partner have made, then do not be ashamed of it. Neither should you be ashamed to have sexual urges with your partner—it would be unnatural not to. There are some things you can do to help calm those urges, and still share the kinds of intimacies that people in love share: Enjoy the make-out session but keep your limits firmly in place. If his (or her) wandering hands land where you don't want them, don't just try to block the move with your body language: move them away with your own hands, and say "No, I'm not ready for that." They should get the idea immediately, and respect you enough to stop that approach. Break off the make-out session if it gets too hot for either of you to handle. It's completely natural to feel desire, but it's not required that you act on that. If you find yourself suddenly overwhelmed with passion, but are committed to remaining chaste for now, simply back off a bit and say something like "wow, that's hot, but I'm not ready to go further right now. Let's go watch a movie." If your partner doesn't understand, or is insistent, don't be surprised: they may not be quite as ready to stop as you are, and might be a little confused and flustered. However, if they remain insistent, or demanding, or even attempt emotional blackmail such as "If you loved me you would keep going," send them home to cool down, and re-think if you want to be in that situation with them again. Understand the risks. Surprisingly, abstinence actually has a higher failure rate than condoms in preventing STDs and pregnancy. This doesn't mean you can get pregnant from kissing, of course. What this means is that a large number of abstaining teens lose their resolve and have some form of sex in the heat of the moment, often without protection. Educate yourself about pregnancy and STDs. Understanding these risks can help you stick to your plan, or run out and buy a condom if you change your minds.	Understand pregnancy. Learn about sexually transmitted diseases. Use condoms. Consider birth control pills. Track the fertility cycle. Research other forms of birth control. Decide whether you're ready for sex. Avoid sex for the wrong reasons. Talk with your partner. Plan ahead. Take your time. Go as far as you are comfortable. Have realistic expectations. Let each other change your mind. Talk about the experience with your partner afterwards. Understand healthy anal sex. Don't go all the way. Engage in heavy petting. Engage in non-penetrative sex. Engage in oral sex. Refrain from having sex. Enjoy the make-out session but keep your limits firmly in place. Break off the make-out session if it gets too hot for either of you to handle. Understand the risks.
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Your-Wife	How to Treat Your Wife	To make your wife feel special, show her affection by hugging her before she goes to work or holding her hand when you're walking together. You can also wish her good morning and goodnight as a way to show her you're thinking of her. Even though you're married, make time to go on special dates. You can even choose one night of the week as your regular date night! Since thoughtful gifts are always welcome tokens of affection, surprise her with presents from time to time. You don't have to buy expensive gifts. Something thoughtful like giving her a coffee after she pulled an all-nighter will also make her feel special! Since respect is an important part of a marriage, put her needs before your own so she knows she's a priority in your life.	Be open with her. No matter how well you know each other, you can't expect her to be able to read your mind. Establish clear, honest lines of communication and use positive language to get your point across. Don't shy away from subjects just because they're difficult or uncomfortable. One of the biggest perks of marriage is always having someone there to listen. If there's one person you can talk to about anything, it's your spouse. Try never to lie. Dishonesty is a trait that has the potential to destroy the trust in even the healthiest relationships, and once it's gone, it can be tough to build back. Talk about your day. Take a few minutes to catch up on the day's events at the end of the day, every day. Not only does this keep you both in loop about what's been going on in each other's life, it also shows that you have a genuine interest in her passions and pursuits. It's also a good opportunity to get some trustworthy feedback about your own ideas and decisions. Turn off the TV and put away your cell phones until you've had a chance to sit down one-on-one. Take turns talking and listening to one another so each person feels appreciated. Let her vent. Be someone that she can come to with her problems without fear of judgment or criticism. While she's talking, listen intently and chime in when you can offer a word of comfort or encouragement. You can then formulate a helpful response, or just hug her and tell her everything will be OK. Don't be too quick to point out her mistakes or give unsolicited advice. Sometimes, what she needs is a supportive ear, not a guidance counselor. Let her know you're giving her your full attention by occasionally saying, “I'm listening.” If you have questions, you could say, “Tell me a little more about that.” Resolve arguments quickly. Heated disputes are unavoidable, but they shouldn't overstay their welcome. Always be willing to be the first one to say “I'm sorry.” Your ability to bounce back and be there for one another matters far more than who's right or wrong. It's usually best to work out issues as soon as they arise, rather than dragging them out. However, stepping away for a few minutes may help you cool off and discuss things more rationally. When hurt feelings are allowed to fester, they can quickly turn into resentment, which can be like poison to the relationship. Treat her the way she wants to be treated. Make an effort to view your wife the way she views herself. By recognizing her values, motivations, and insecurities, you'll be able to honor her expectations for what makes a successful marriage. At the same time, you can avoid doing things that might offend her or hurt her feelings. Resist the urge to assign your wife a role. You may like the idea of having a spouse who's a homemaker or mother, but these wishes may clash with her understanding of who she is. Think of yourselves as equals. Your wife isn't there simply to fulfill your wishes. She's your partner, which means love, support, and consideration must run both ways. Don't ask anything of her that you wouldn't be willing to do in return. As long as you both place each other's needs before your own, you can be sure that they'll always be met. Treat her thoughts, feelings, and opinions like they have the same weight as your own. Be thankful for your wife and all the ways she enriches your life. Make her a priority. Let your wife know that she's the most important thing in your world. That means she should come before your friends, hobbies, and even your career. If she's forced to take a backseat to these things, she could end up feeling neglected. Show, don't tell. Instead of using words to display your devotion, prove it with selfless actions intended to make her feel like the center of your universe. Doing things like leaving your schedule open on the weekend of your wife's birthday or following through with dinner plans instead of working late will prove to her that she's always at the forefront of your mind. If something comes up and you need to cancel plans, call her right away to apologize. Create a plan to make it up to her later. Be careful about showing other women attention. Carrying on with another woman in an inappropriate manner, even if you think it's just harmless flirting, can easily strain things between you and your wife. Politeness is one thing, but being overly friendly could be interpreted as something more. In order for her to feel secure in your marriage, your wife needs to be reassured that you only have eyes for her. Receiving attention from another woman can be a confidence boost, but the best thing to do when it happens is simply smile and inform her that you're happily married. This doesn't just go for the women at work or the gym—it also applies to the female figures you gush over in movies and on the covers of fitness magazines. Show her affection. Hug her tight before you leave to go to work, or come up behind her and kiss her gently on the neck while she's making dinner. Anytime you're walking or sitting together, reach out and hold her hand. Touch is vital for helping couples feel close, and it's one of the best reminders that you're there for her. Gaze deeply into her eyes to form a more intimate connection. Wish her a good morning and goodnight. Greet her as soon as she wakes up, and before she goes to bed. This is a small but thoughtful gesture that will let her know that you're thinking about her. She'll feel loved as she begins and ends her day. Call or text your wife to tell her good morning and goodnight when you're away from home. If you both have busy schedules, agree on a time once a day to check in while you are apart. Go to bed together. Get in the habit of turning in at the same time each night, even if you're not tired. You don't have to go to sleep right away—you can sit and talk, read, trade back rubs, or just savor a rare moment of peace and quiet. The important thing is that you're together. For many busy married couples, this may be one of the only times you'll have to sit and enjoy one another's company without other distractions getting in the way. Try to adjust your sleep cycle so that you and your wife are on the same schedule. Take her out. There's no rule that says you have to stop dating when you get married. Make time to go on dates or take a special outing together, just the two of you. If possible, you could even designate one night of the week as your regular date night, so you'll always have something to look forward to. Alternate who gets to plan the night's activities, or compromise by letting her pick the movie after you've chosen the restaurant. That way, everyone gets a say. Getting out periodically may be just what you both need to shake up a tired routine and add a little excitement to your marriage. Buy her thoughtful gifts. Surprise your wife from time to time with a token of your affection. Timeless romantic gestures like jewelry, chocolates, or a bouquet of red roses are always a welcome gesture, but your gifts don't necessarily need to be expensive. She'll appreciate a new set of bath salts or a latté after pulling an all-nighter just as much if not more than fancier offerings. Picking out the right present can be tough. Listen carefully when your wife mentions things she needs, wants, or has been meaning to get for herself. These make some of the best surprises. Having your gifts delivered to her workplace can put her in a better mood during a stressful day and leave her beaming with pride in front of her coworkers. Assume some of her responsibilities. If she's always the one that handles the household chores, give her a well-deserved break by picking up the kids at school, cooking dinner, or folding the laundry. This will allow her to relax and take some time for herself. Split up other regular duties, like cleaning and grocery shopping, to keep things fair. Offer to help her out anyway you can. There may be something less obvious you can do to lighten her load. Avoid asking her to do things for you if you know it might make her even more frantic.	Be open with her. Talk about your day. Let her vent. Resolve arguments quickly. Treat her the way she wants to be treated. Think of yourselves as equals. Make her a priority. Be careful about showing other women attention. Show her affection. Wish her a good morning and goodnight. Go to bed together. Take her out. Buy her thoughtful gifts. Assume some of her responsibilities.
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Facebook-Details-to-Log-into-Skype	How to Use Facebook Details to Log into Skype	Open the Skype login page and click on Sign in with Facebook in the bottom-right corner of the window.	Open the Skype program on your PC or Mac. You can't use Facebook to log in on the mobile app. Click Sign in with Facebook. This is in the bottom right corner of Skype's sign-in window. Type in your Facebook email address and password. You can also use your phone number in lieu of an email address. Click Log In. Click Continue as Your Name. This page lets you know that Skype will receive information from your Facebook account. Click I agree - join skype. After accepting the terms here, your account is created. Your Facebook information (e.g., your name, email address, and phone number) will be built into your Skype profile when you open it.	Open the Skype program on your PC or Mac. Click Sign in with Facebook. Type in your Facebook email address and password. Click Log In. Click Continue as Your Name. Click I agree - join skype.
https://www.wikihow.com/Sew-Elastic	How to Sew Elastic	To sew elastic into your garment, first measure how long you need the elastic strip to be, and cut it to length. Once you've cut the elastic, overlap the ends by about a quarter-inch and sew the ends together with a zigzag stitch. After you've sewn the ends together, pin the elastic inside your fabric in 4 evenly spaced places to keep it secure. Then, sew the top edge of the elastic to the inside of your garment using a zigzag stitch. Make sure you stretch the elastic out as you sew to keep it the same length as your fabric. When you've sewn the top edge, fold over the elastic towards the inside of the fabric to hide the elastic inside. Hold it in place and sew along the bottom edge of the folded fabric.	Measure and cut the elastic. To determine how much elastic you will need for the band in your garment, measure the area of the person's body that the band will wrap around. This could be the person's waist, chest, upper arms, wrists, neck or another area that the garment will cover. For example, if the elastic is part of a waistband, then measure around the person's waist. Use this measurement to figure out how much elastic you will need for the waistband, and cut the elastic to this length. If the person wants the elastic to fit snugly, then subtract some length from the measurement. For example, if the person wants a somewhat snug waistband, then subtract 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) from the waist measurement and cut the elastic to this length. Sew together the ends of your elastic. Overlap the ends of the elastic by about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) to 0.5 inches (1.3 cm). Use the zigzag stitch setting on your sewing machine and sew across the overlapping elastic 2 or 3 times. This will ensure that the ends of the elastic band are well connected. Another option is to sew the ends of the elastic together using a scrap piece of fabric. Line up the edges of the elastic over the scrap piece of fabric and then sew a zigzag stitch across the edges 2 or 3 times. This will eliminate any bulging that may occur from overlapping the elastic. Pin the elastic to your fabric in 4 evenly spaced places. Start by pinning the seam of the elastic (the area you just sewed) to the seam on your fabric. If there is no seam in the fabric, then just choose any spot to place your first pin. Then, pin the opposite side of the elastic to the opposite side of the fabric band, and do the same for the two opposing sides of the elastic. Pinning the elastic this way will divide the elastic band and fabric into quarters and attach it evenly to 4 sections. Make sure that the edge of the elastic is about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) from the edge of the fabric. This will ensure that the elastic will be hidden when you sew the elastic in place. Sew the elastic to the inside of the fabric. After you have finished pinning the elastic to the fabric, sew the elastic in place using your sewing machine. Set the machine to the zigzag stitch setting and begin sewing along the top edge of the elastic. Make sure to stretch the elastic out as you sew so that it will be the same length as the fabric. Sew all the way around the elastic and overlap the beginning of the stitching slightly when you have sewn all the way around the elastic. Fold over the fabric to cover the elastic band. To hide the elastic inside of the fabric you are attaching it to, fold over the elastic towards the inside of the fabric. Make sure that the elastic is lying flat and the fold is even all the way across. Sew along the bottom edges of the folded fabric. Pull the elastic taut again to make it even with the fabric and the begin sewing a zigzag stitch along the bottom edge of the elastic. This stitch should be right along the bottom edge of your fabric. Overlap the stitching by about 1 inch (2.5 cm) to ensure that the elastic is secure. Measure the width of the elastic. Your casing will need to be slightly wider than your elastic, so start by measuring the width of your elastic. Then, add 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) to this measurement. For example, if your elastic measures 0.5 inches (1.3 cm), then you will need to add another 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) for a total of 1 inch (2.5 cm). Fold over the required amount of fabric. Use the measurement you determined and fold over this amount of fabric. Fold the fabric into the garment so that the raw (cut) edges will be hidden inside of the garment when you are finished. Make sure to fold the fabric evenly all the way around the waistband or cuff. Pin the fabric in place to secure it until you are ready to sew. For example, if you determined that you need 1 inch (2.5 cm) of fabric to create a casing for the elastic, then fold over 1 inch (2.5 cm) of fabric towards the inside of your garment. Mark the area for an opening wide enough to fit the elastic into. You will need to leave an opening in the casing to slide the elastic into the casing. After the elastic is all the way through and you have connected the ends of the elastic, you will sew this opening closed. Mark the area where you want the leave the opening using a piece of chalk or by placing 2 pins on each side of the opening. Make sure the opening is wide enough to easily slide the elastic into. For example, if your elastic is 0.5 inches (1.3 cm), then your opening should be about 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) to 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. Sew along the edge of the fabric to secure the casing. When the fabric is folded and secured how you want it to be, use your sewing machine to sew a straight stitch about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) from the edges of the fabric. This will provide plenty of room for the elastic while also ensuring a secure casing. Make sure to avoid sewing over the area where you have marked as the opening for the casing. Measure and cut the elastic. After you have finished creating the casing, determine how much elastic you will need to insert into the casing. You can do this by taking the measurement of the person who will be wearing this garment. Take the measurement of the area of the person's body the band will go around. This could be the person's waist, chest, wrists, or another area that the garment will cover. For example, if the elastic is part of a shirt cuff, then measure around the person's wrist or arm where the elastic will go. Use this measurement to determine how much elastic you will need, and cut the elastic to this length. Depending on how tight the person wants the elastic to be, you may need to subtract some length from the measurement. For example, if the person wants to ensure that the cuffs on the garment stay put, then you might subtract 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) from the wrist measurement to ensure a snug fit. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic. A safety pin through the end of the elastic band will make it easier to feed the elastic through the casing. Insert a safety pin through 1 end of the elastic band and then close the safety pin. Make sure that you do not insert the safety pin through the elastic too close to the edge of the elastic or it may come out while you are working the safety pin through the casing. Insert the pin about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) from the end of the elastic. Insert the safety pin and elastic through the opening in the casing. Take the closed safety pin and insert it through the opening you have left in your casing. Stretch and pull the fabric to work the safety pin through the casing. After you insert the safety pin, push it into the casing further. Scrunch up the fabric around the safety pin, and then straighten out the fabric while holding the safety pin through the fabric with one hand to move the elastic through the casing. Repeat this until the safety pin comes out the other side of the casing opening. Be careful not to twist the elastic as you work it through the casing. If the safety pin opens while you are working it through the elastic, try to close it through the fabric. If you cannot get it closed, pull the elastic and safety pin out of the casing and secure the safety pin again. Then, reinsert the safety pin through the casing opening and try to work it through again. Secure the other end of the elastic. Hold onto the other end of the elastic as you push and pull the safety pin through. Don't allow the end of the elastic to go all the way through the casing. If you are having trouble holding onto the other end of the elastic as you work, then you may also attach this end to the outside of the casing with another safety pin. Match up the ends of the elastic and sew them together. When you have finished working the safety pin through the casing, remove the safety pin and match up the ends of the elastic. Overlap the ends slightly, by about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) to 0.5 inches (1.3 cm). Then, use a sewing machine to sew a zigzag stitch over the overlapping elastic. This will secure the ends of the elastic together. Close the opening in the casing. After you have attached the ends of your elastic band, tug on the elastic to ensure that all parts of the elastic band are under the casing. Then, sew across the edge of the opening in the casing to close it.	Measure and cut the elastic. Sew together the ends of your elastic. Pin the elastic to your fabric in 4 evenly spaced places. Sew the elastic to the inside of the fabric. Fold over the fabric to cover the elastic band. Sew along the bottom edges of the folded fabric. Measure the width of the elastic. Fold over the required amount of fabric. Mark the area for an opening wide enough to fit the elastic into. Sew along the edge of the fabric to secure the casing. Measure and cut the elastic. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic. Insert the safety pin and elastic through the opening in the casing. Stretch and pull the fabric to work the safety pin through the casing. Secure the other end of the elastic. Match up the ends of the elastic and sew them together. Close the opening in the casing.
https://www.wikihow.com/Achieve-Something-in-Life	How to Achieve Something in Life	You can achieve something in life by recognizing your strengths, which will allow you to make achievable goals for yourself. For example, if you're good at drawing, consider working toward a career in the arts, such as graphic design or architecture. However, if you have trouble visualizing your success, try talking to someone who is already successful, like a parent or teacher, to learn how they got to where they are now. Once you know what you want to achieve, set small goals for yourself, and reward yourself when you meet them to stay motivated!	Clarify your life goals. You may be passionate about obtaining an advanced degree, starting a family, creating a successful business or writing a book. Begin visualizing these goals and talk to competent people about how you might achieve your aspirations. Ask yourself what really makes you happy and try to follow your happiness. Recognize your strengths. It is a bad idea to follow a life trajectory just because someone tells you to. However, other people will be able to recognize your strengths in an unbiased way that you often cannot. Listen to what they say about your strengths and weaknesses. Try to tailor your goals to your strengths. For example, if you are good at drawing, consider careers in visual design. If you are good at writing, think about how you can leverage that in your own career. That doesn't necessarily mean that you should commit yourself to being a novelist or an artist, which can be difficult careers. But you should consider other careers that utilize these skills, like advertising, architecture, interior design, or law. Identify obstacles that may interfere with your goal. For example, you might have an innovative business concept, but not enough capital to get it off the ground. It is impractical to get into sports or some professional careers past a certain age. Talk to people who have followed the route you are entertaining to determine if it is viable option for you. Talk to someone who is successful. To get a sense for what you will need to do to accomplish your goal, you should talk to someone who has already accomplished it. Ask her what steps she had to take to reach her goals. Try to get a sense for the “price” she paid, in terms of how many hours she committed daily to work. Build a plan to follow in her footsteps. Part of this will consist of setting up a daily schedule. If she committed 3 hours a day to work, ask how can you do the same. Will you need to cut out Television from your schedule or severely limit it to a certain amount of time per day? You will only know if you do the math. Create a goal achievement action plan. Your goals will be more actionable if you create a plan to realize them. Create a timeline for each goal and identify the steps necessary to realizing each of them. Put it in writing and be as specific as possible about dates, small steps, and verifiable benchmarks for success. Determine the steps necessary to achieve each life goal. For example, to get into a reputable law school, you must first complete an undergraduate degree with a high grade point average. Then, you'll need a high score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). You'll then apply to a list of carefully selected reputable law schools. Break down each large goal into smaller steps. For example, applying to reputable law schools will require that you submit reference letters, write a personal statement, and detail any experience in a law office. Identifying these smaller steps early on helps you be proactive in establishing relationships with professors who can write you letters of recommendation before you graduate. Similarly, you can begin planning to find a part-time summer job in a law office during your undergraduate years. Create a plan for addressing obstacles and personal challenges. For example, if your goal is to marry and have a family, but you can't find a romantic partner because you struggle with shyness, you might ask friends to introduce you to people, push yourself to attend social activities, or consult with a relationship counselor. Stay motivated. Once you have an action plan, you should reward yourself every time that you meet a goal. If it a small goal, go out for a dinner or a drink, perhaps take some extra time off. If it is a big goal, Take a long vacation. Rewarding yourself will keep you motivated, though you need to make sure that you have set clear benchmarks, like a specific percent increase in sales or a certain grade on the LSAT. Otherwise, you might not force yourself to a very high standard. Reflect on your personal needs. In addition to the physical needs of staying fed, sheltered and healthy, consider your mental, emotional and spiritual needs as you work to achieve something in life. The need to feel respected, mentally stimulated, challenged and loved are vital factors for sustaining motivation. Remain constantly aware of the outcomes of your work. Verify that your goals foster your motivation. For example, the chances of building a loving family are much greater if you choose a life partner who makes you feel loved and respected, and encourages you to pursue your life goals. Assess your progress. Constantly assess whether you are meeting your goals. If not, determine whether or not you have committed yourself sufficiently, and, if not, make more time in your schedule to meet these goals. If you are working hard to no effect, consider whether a different strategy would work better, or if you need to think about a new goal. Learn to delay gratification. One of the strongest predictors of how successful a person is whether one can delay gratification for bigger rewards in the future. Take a bad habit that consumes time or sacrifices your health—like eating junk food or watching TV—and practice putting it off for as long as you can stand. This was proven in the classic marshmallow experiment, where children were promised two marshmallows if they could hold themselves back from eating a single marshmallow for fifteen minutes. Those who delayed the gratification to receive two marshmallows went on to have higher SAT scores, better health, and a lower risk of substance abuse. Follow up studies demonstrated that if children reliably received rewards when they delayed gratification, they would be better able to do so. Cultivate grit. Along similar lines, it is important to practice perseverance. Stop thinking about life as a sprint, instead think of it as a marathon. Don't expect to reach your goal in a short period of intense effort. Stay active and working to your goals all the time as consistently as possible. Seinfeld, for example, argues that the key to his success was to sit down and write some jokes every day. It wasn't about periods of intense, highly motivated activity, but rather a devoted, consistent habit. Some people recommend finishing up your most important or difficult task at the very beginning of the day. If you do that, you will have momentum and your difficult tasks won't intimidate you into procrastination. Work on your social skills. Research shows that nowadays the most successful people are those who combine skill with social graces. Social skills have become increasingly important in the modern world. They can best be cultivated through continuous practice. Practice socializing, even if it just saying “hello” or “thank you” to someone you meet in public. Watch how people who are popular act to determine what they do that attracts other people. Similarly, watch how people respond to you to see what does and does not work. Have confidence. Studies show that the confidence that you project about yourself is as important as your actual qualifications. Think about your accomplishments. Practice body language that exudes confidence. Once you develop the confidence to act and be successful, your confidence will naturally snowball with your accomplishments. To exude confidence, stand up straight with your shoulders back and chest out. Project your voice to sound strong. Make eye contact when you talk to someone. Exercise to look and feel strong. Embrace change. Many people feel that embracing change violates our authentic self. The most successful people, however, are those that do not perceive themselves as fixed, but rather as growing, changing to improve their skills, and adapt to the world around them. Model yourself after successful people and follow their example. While authenticity can be a powerful asset, you shouldn't allow yourself to be held back by your inability to change. Instead embrace an evolving sense of authenticity: the idea that the authentic you is someone you are becoming, not someone you were.	Clarify your life goals. Recognize your strengths. Identify obstacles that may interfere with your goal. Talk to someone who is successful. Create a goal achievement action plan. Stay motivated. Assess your progress. Learn to delay gratification. Cultivate grit. Work on your social skills. Have confidence. Embrace change.
https://www.wikihow.com/Hold-a-Bake-Off	How to Hold a Bake Off	With the right preparation, you can hold a fun and successful bake-off. Start by setting some basic ground rules for your bake-off, like what the theme is, whether entries are timed or not, and what participants will be judged on. Then, ask a few people to be the judges for your bake-off and get the word out about the event. Create a flyer and post it around your neighborhood or make a Facebook event. Make sure to include information about how participants can sign up and what the rules are. If your bake-off is to raise money for something, include a link where people can donate as well. Once you know how many people are competing, rent a venue that has enough kitchen equipment for all the participants, and make sure it's stocked with enough baking ingredients for the competition. Finally, select a few prizes for the winners, like trophies, ribbons, or gift certificates.	Choose a theme for the bake off. To make it easier to settle on recipes, it helps to have a theme for the bake off. You might choose a specific type of baked goods, such as cookies, cakes, pies, or brownies, or a specific event to bake for, such as desserts for a holiday, birthday, or wedding. A specific ingredients, such as apples or pumpkin, can also be a good theme. A seasonal theme can work well too. For example, ask for summer desserts or fall-inspired treats. A movie or book can be a fun theme as well. For example, request Harry Potter-inspired baked goods. You can even use a color for the bake off's theme. For example, ask for baked goods that feature red ingredients. Decide on the rules for the bake off. A bake off can be arranged in several different ways. You can give the participants the general theme and let them choose their own recipes or you might choose a single recipe and have all of the participants make the same thing. It's also important to decide if participants will bake their entry at the venue or bring a finished product to the event. Having participants bake on site is very exciting, but it can be more difficult to find a venue with the proper kitchen facilities so having bakers bring finished entries may be more convenient. Write down a set of formal rules for the bake off once you settle on them. Participants will want to know all of the guidelines before they agree to take part. You should also decide if you will charge an entry fee. If you're holding the event to raise money, having participants pay a small fee makes sense. Anywhere from $5 to $20 may be appropriate, depending on the event. Settle on prizes for the bake off. To give people incentive to participate, it helps to have some type of prize for the winner(s) of the bake off. If the event is sponsored by a local business, it might be a cash prize. You can also hand out a trophy, ribbon, or certificate. The bake-off prize can be worth any amount, but typically, $25 to $100 is a good range. You may decide that only the first-place winner receives a prize, but you can also have smaller prizes for the second and third-place winners if you like. If you're holding the bake off for fun, you just might purchase small items to use as prizes, such as an apron or pot holders. A bake off can also function as a fundraiser. Even if you give the winner a small prize, you can then sell off all of the baked goods afterward to raise money for your cause. Set a date and time for the bake off. Once you've settled on the basic guidelines for the bake off, you'll need to find a day and time to hold it. It may depend on when you can secure a venue, but it's usually best to hold it on a weekend when people typically have more free time. If you're using a holiday or other special occasion as a theme for the bake off, you'll want to time the event to appropriately. In most cases, you'll want to hold the contest within a two to three weeks of the holiday. For example, if the bake off has Christmas theme, you'll want to hold it within the first two to three weeks of December. Find a venue for the bake off. When you've settled on a date and time for the bake off, you'll need a location for it. If you plan to have participants bake their entries at the event, you'll need a spot with multiple ovens and stove tops. If you're having participants bring prepared baked goods to the event, you only need a spot where there's room for a judging table and space for an audience. If you need a venue with cooking equipment, you might look online for catering facilities that could support the bake off. A bakery or restaurant can be an ideal venue too. Talk to local businesses to see if they're interested in partnering with you for the bake off. If you only need a space to showcase the finished baked goods, any catering hall or party room that's available for rent will work. Select at least one judge for the bake off. To determine the winner of the bake off, you'll need at least one judge to taste and evaluate the baked goods. Ideally, the judge(s) should have some baking knowledge and experience, but that doesn't necessarily have to be as a professional. The judges shouldn't have any personal connections to the contests to avoid any claims of bias. In general, the more participants your bake off has, the more judges you'll want. A panel of three judges works well for most bake offs, though. If your bake off has five or less participants, though, a single judge is usually sufficient. For five to ten candidates, two judges work well. People who would make good candidates for judges include local bakery and restaurant owners, culinary teachers from local schools, or bakers who've won other bake offs. When you're talking to potential judges, you might say something like, "We're holding a bake off and would really like your expertise in judging the entries." If you're holding the event to raise money for a cause, provide information about the organization or group that will benefit to the potential judges. Find participants for the bake off. A bake off can't happen if there aren't bakers to participate. Ask friends, family, co-workers, and/or classmates who you know enjoy baking to take part. You can also create flyers with all of the details to post in your neighborhood, on your school or office bulletin board, or other locations to invite people to participate. Make sure to get permission before you post any flyers on private property, such as a store window. If you're active on social media, you can also post online about the bake off to find participants. For example, making a Facebook event for the bake off is a good way to generate buzz. You can also use Twitter and Instagram to do a countdown to the event as a way to keep people interested. Invite people to watch the bake off. It's not necessary, but it can be fun to have an audience to attend the bake off. Once you've secured participants, create a flyer that advertises the event for anyone who might like to watch and post them in your neighborhood and/or school or office bulletin board. If you're holding the bake off as a fundraiser, you can sell tickets to the event. You can charge however much you like for the tickets, but it's best to keep the price between $5 and $10. Create judging sheets. To make it easier for the judges to evaluate the entries, you should create scoring sheets for them to use. Decide what categories they should judge, such as taste and appearance, and what scale they should use, such as 1 to 5 or 1 to 10. Make enough copies so each judge has one for every contestant. Some judging categories to consider include overall taste, texture, presentation, originality, adherence to theme, and skill level. There should be a spot on the judging sheets for the judge to write their own name, as well as the contestant's name. Make copies of the recipe if it's that type of challenge. If all of the participants are preparing the same recipe for the bake off, you'll need to make enough copies so all of the participants have one. Don't hand them out until the bake off actually begins, though. You may also want to make copies of the recipe for the judges to consult. Gather baking supplies if necessary. If participants are baking their entries at the bake off, you'll need to have supplies on hand for them to use. You'll need ingredients, such as flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla, as well as bakeware, such as mixing bowls, electric mixers, cookie sheets, and cake pans. If participants are using their own recipes, you should ask them if there are any special ingredients or equipment that they'll need so you can be sure to have them on hand for the event. Gather decorations for the venue. To make the event feel more festive, it helps to decorate the venue. You don't have to go crazy, but some colorful disposable tablecloths, decorative bunting, and simple balloons can help dress up the space. It's a good idea to match your decorations to the theme of the bake off. For example, orange, red, brown, and gold decorations work well for a fall-themed bake off. Verify that the venue is set up properly. The day of the bake off, take a walk around the event space. Check that any necessary ingredients and equipment are on hand and there are tables for the contestants to display their entries. Make sure that you have all the necessary recipes and/or scoring sheets as well. Time the entries. If participants are baking their entries at the venue, you'll need to give them a set amount of time to prepare their baked goods. Use a countdown clock that is visible to everyone at the venue, and don't allow anyone to submit an entry that isn't ready after it ticks down. If guests are preparing their entries at home, you should still have a set time when the entries have to be on the judging table. Have the participants place their entries on the table with no names. All of the participants should put their entries on tables in a designated judging area. However, the participants' names shouldn't be placed with their entries to ensure that the judges are objective. Just number the entries and keep a list of which entry belongs to which participant. Give the judges time to fill out the voting cards. Once the entries have reached the judging table, allow the judges to look at and taste each one. After they've tasted the entries, they should be given some time to fill out their scoring sheets so they can be as thorough as possible. The amount of time that the judges will need depends largely on how many entries there are. The more baked goods they have to judge, the more time they'll likely need. In general, you'll want to give the judges at least five minutes to evaluate each entry. Collect the scoring sheets and tally the votes. After the judges have had some time to evaluate the entries, gather up their judging sheets. Add up the scores for each participant so you can determine who the first, second, and third-place winners are. Announce the winner(s). Once you've counted all the votes, it's time to announce the winner. If you're naming the top three vote getters, start with the third and second-place winners and save the first-place winner for last. Hand out the prize(s), and take some photos of the winners to remember the day.	Choose a theme for the bake off. Decide on the rules for the bake off. Settle on prizes for the bake off. Set a date and time for the bake off. Find a venue for the bake off. Select at least one judge for the bake off. Find participants for the bake off. Invite people to watch the bake off. Create judging sheets. Make copies of the recipe if it's that type of challenge. Gather baking supplies if necessary. Gather decorations for the venue. Verify that the venue is set up properly. Time the entries. Have the participants place their entries on the table with no names. Give the judges time to fill out the voting cards. Collect the scoring sheets and tally the votes. Announce the winner(s).
https://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Fear	How to Overcome Fear	To overcome your fears, start by describing them out loud to yourself, since talking about your fears will make them easier to overcome. For example, you might say "When I stand in small spaces, I feel anxious, but I know I'm safe." Once you've acknowledged your fears, try gradually exposing yourself to them until they're not as scary anymore. You might try standing in a closet, for example, before trying a smaller space. However, if you get scared when you're facing your fears, take long, deep breaths and try clenching and relaxing all the muscles in your body until you feel more calm.	Recognize when fears become overwhelming. It's normal to have fears. You may experience fear when you ride a bike for the first time or when you start a new job. However, when fears begin to take over your life and affect your functioning, they become a problem. If your fears feel overwhelming, the distress from the fear can interfere with your ability to function and you may experience intense anxiety or nervousness. Reflect on your fears and notice how much they affect your life. Are your fears keeping you from moving forward with what you want in your life? The following are some considerations: Your fear causes intense anxiety or panic. You recognize that your fear is not rational. You avoid specific places or situations. Avoidance of the fear causes distress and interferes with your functioning. The fear has persisted 6 months or more. Understand symptoms of fear. Fears often manifest as phobias, which can include situations (fear of public speaking or raising your hand), animals (fear of snakes or spiders), blood, injections, etc. When you experience fear, physiological, mental, and emotional reactions occur, which can include: Racing heartbeat Difficulty breathing Feeling dizzy Sweating Overwhelming anxiety, panic Feeling pressured to do it Needing to escape Feeling detached Feeling like you may faint or die Feeling powerless to your fear, even if you know it's irrational Reflect on any traumatic events. If you've experienced a car crash, driving a car may become fearful or you may avoid it altogether. Or perhaps you were robbed walking home, and the thought of walking home again creates panic.There are many ways that fears develop, and it's natural to avoid previously harmful experiences. While a fear response is natural for this kind of event, some events may be unavoidable. Recognize that your fear is valid, but also needs to be addressed. Consider that origins can begin young. You may have an intense fear of snakes but not know why. Some evidence suggests that fears can be shared between parents and children with a biological link. Other evidence suggests that children in particular decode environmental information and develop fears based on what they observe may be a threat. By watching adults interact with an object or situation, the child learns to create associations such as “fearful” or “potentially harmful” regardless of an actual posed risk. Realize that it’s okay to have fears. Fear is an adaptive function that prolongs our lives. Do you walk up to a cliff's edge and suddenly feel fearful? This is adaptive fear, and it tells you, “This could be dangerous and cost you your life. Take caution.” Fear triggers a “fight-or-flight” response, which readies our bodies to take action in order to protect ourselves. Realize that fear can be good, and acknowledge the positive and protective role it has. Acknowledge your specific fears. It's easy to ignore or deny your fears, even to yourself. But courage can't come into play unless you have a fear to face down. By owning your feelings you've taken the first step toward gaining control over the situation. Name your fear. Sometimes fear makes itself known immediately, clearly, and other times it's more difficult to name those anxious feelings lurking in the back of your mind. Let your fear rise to the surface and give it a name. It may be concrete (like a fear of cats) or situational (like a fear of being called on in class). Don't judge your fears. Acknowledge what comes up with no attachment to “good” or “bad.” Understand your triggers. Is it something obvious, like the sight of a snake on a trail? Maybe passing your career counselor's office door sends your mind into a downward spiral when you walk down the corridor in your high school. Figure out everything that triggers your fear. The more you can understand your fear, the better. Question the power the fear holds over you. Does your fear cause you to stay in bed instead of getting up and going to a class you're afraid of failing? Do you avoid visiting your family in another state because you don't want to get on a plane? Figure out exactly what power your fear has over your mind and behavior. Imagine the outcome you desire. Now that you better understand your fear, think about what exactly you want to change. Think about yourself experiencing life without your fear. How do you feel? For example: If your fear is commitment, imagine yourself happily with a partner. If your fear is heights, imagine yourself conquering a tough hike. Connect with the feeling of accomplishment. If your fear is spiders, imagine yourself seeing a spider and feeling neutral. Identify false beliefs. Many fears are based in false beliefs or catastrophic thinking. When you see a spider, you may immediately have a belief that says that the spider will harm you, and that you will die. Identify these patterns of thinking, and start to question them. Do some online research and understand your actual risk versus perceived risk. Recognize that the worse-case scenario is highly unlikely. Begin to re-structure your thoughts to not engage in catastrophic thinking, and start to talk back to those thoughts. When your fear arises, pause and reflect on your actual risk. Talk back to your negative thoughts or false beliefs and say, “I recognize that some dogs are vicious, but the vast majority of dogs are gentle. It is unlikely I will get bitten.” Try gradual exposure. After you have confronted your false beliefs, begin to expose yourself to the fear. Oftentimes we're afraid of something because we haven't been exposed to it very much. "Fear of the unknown" is a commonly used phrase to describe the automatic aversion people feel to something that's different. If you're afraid of dogs, start by looking at a badly drawn doodle of a dog done in silly colors. Look at it until you feel no fear response. Then, look at a photo of a dog, then a video of a dog. Examine it until no fear response exists. Go to a park where you know one or a few dogs will be on-leash and watch them until you feel no fear. Go to a friend's house who has a dog and watch him interact with a dog until no fear response is elicited. Ask a friend to let you touch or pet his dog while the dog is restrained by your friend until you feel neutral. Finally, be near a dog and spend one-on-one time with a dog. Practice engaging with the fear. The power to label your emotions is beneficial for self-understanding and emotional intelligence. It also appears that engaging with a fear and verbalizing your fear has incredible power to help you overcome fears and regulate emotions. Researchers had spider-fearful individuals exposed to a spider, and participants that labelled their fears (“I feel very scared of this spider”) had a lower fear response the following week when exposed to a different spider. Running from fears never improves the way you feel about a fear. Next time you experience a fear, verbally engage the fear, using words that describe your fear and anxiety. Learn relaxation techniques. When your body experiences fear, lots of triggers ready your body for a “fight-or-flight” action response. Learn to override this response by counteracting with relaxation techniques. Relaxation tells your body that there is no danger and that you are safe. Relaxation can also help you cope with other stress and anxiety in your life. Try deep breathing exercises. Focus on your breath, and start counting each breath: four seconds inhale, then four seconds exhale. Once this is comfortable, elongate your breath to six seconds. If you notice your muscles tensing, be conscious to relax them. One way to do this is to clench all the muscles in your body for three seconds, then relax them. Do this two or three times to melt stress throughout your body. Make your fear a source of fascination. The same things we fear also incite feelings of exhilaration and even passion. That's why people enjoy extreme sports, horror movies, and swimming with sharks on vacation. Try to re-frame your fear in a positive light and acknowledge the thrill it can offer. When you start seeing fear as a source of energy, you might even embrace its role in your life. Harness the power of fear. Fear can have incredible power in life-or-death situations. People report the sensation of time slowing down, senses becoming highly acute, and having the ability to instinctively know what to do. While other communication within our bodies takes about half a second to reach awareness, the fear system works much more quickly. Fear also deadens our awareness of pain. Understanding the positives of fear can help you use it to your advantage. For instance, many people experience stage fright, yet the fear leading up to a performance can help you be in the moment and focus intensely on what is before you. Learn to acknowledge the fear and then direct it to where it will be most beneficial Most people experience fear prior to an event, yet experience no fear when in the middle of a situation. Remember that fear heightens your senses so that you have the ability to perform efficiently and powerfully. Start seeing fear as an opportunity. Fear can be used as a tool to help us identify problems and solve them effectively. It's a guidepost, a red flag that warns us when something needs attention. Once the discomfort of the initial wave of fear passes, examine it more closely to see what you can learn. When you feel fear of something unfamiliar, take it as a sign that you need to get to know a person or situation better. If you feel a flash of fear about an upcoming deadline or event, make it an opportunity to make a plan of action to get fully prepared, whether that means getting started on a paper, rehearsing for a play or practicing a speech.	Recognize when fears become overwhelming. Understand symptoms of fear. Reflect on any traumatic events. Consider that origins can begin young. Realize that it’s okay to have fears. Acknowledge your specific fears. Understand your triggers. Question the power the fear holds over you. Imagine the outcome you desire. Identify false beliefs. Try gradual exposure. Practice engaging with the fear. Learn relaxation techniques. Make your fear a source of fascination. Harness the power of fear. Start seeing fear as an opportunity.
https://www.wikihow.com/Raise-Testosterone-Levels-Naturally-(Teen-Boys)	How to Raise Testosterone Levels Naturally (Teen Boys)	To raise testosterone levels naturally for teen boys, get your muscles pumping with high-intensity exercise, such as playing soccer, swimming, or lifting weights. You should try to keep your workouts under 30 minutes, since short bursts of intense exercise have been proven to increase testosterone over time. Also, try to aim for eight to nine hours of sleep each night, as your body needs time to recover its testosterone supply. Additionally, make sure to consume enough zinc, which helps bone strength and testosterone production, by eating plenty of meats, fish, and beans.	Reduce stress hormones that interfere with testosterone production. Life as a teenager can be stressful. If you don't cope with that stress well, your body produces more of a hormone called cortisol. The cortisol essentially tells your body to focus on the stress, rather than on other functions, which results in lower testosterone production. Learning healthy ways to cope with stress can increase the amount of testosterone your body produces. Don't be afraid to talk to a therapist or other mental health professional if you're having a hard time coping with stress. They can help you find healthy ways to handle stressful situations. Listening to music, going for a walk, and playing with a pet are some simple ways to take a break when life gets stressful. If you have any hobbies, such as drawing or playing a musical instrument, those can also be good stress relievers. Meditation and deep-breathing exercises are popular ways to relieve stress. You might also try a yoga or tai chi class. Engage in brief high-intensity workouts to stimulate testosterone production. High-intensity exercise, such as through interval training , has a greater effect on testosterone production than other types of exercise. Because many of these routines don't require any special equipment, these are also workouts you can do at home. Keep your workouts relatively short (20 to 30 minutes) to get the most out of the high intensity. Work out as much muscle mass as possible to stimulate the most testosterone production. In addition to your high-intensity workouts, add cardiovascular exercises to your regular routine, such as walking, cycling, or swimming. Doing these activities with a friend can help you keep your motivation up and make exercise more fun. Get at least 9 hours of sleep each night to give your body time to produce testosterone. Teenagers generally need more sleep than adults. Since your body produces the bulk of its testosterone in the early morning hours while you're sleeping, a full night's sleep is essential if you want to raise your testosterone levels. Set yourself a bedtime and try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Turn off electronics a couple of hours before bed and keep your bedroom cool and dark. This will help you have better quality sleep. Avoid drinking caffeinated or sugary beverages, including sodas and energy drinks, in the evening hours. They'll make it more difficult for you to relax and go to sleep. Make a plan to lose weight if you are overweight. Carrying excess weight can cause your body to produce less testosterone. Apart from that, obesity causes other significant health problems. Get your doctor or a nutritionist to help you design a plan to lose weight and keep it off. This can improve your testosterone levels, but it takes time. Losing weight is a relatively slow process, especially if you're looking for sustained weight loss. Instead of crash dieting to lose weight quickly, start eating more vegetables and whole grains and fewer fried foods. If you eat a lot of fast food, simply eliminating that can help you lose weight and become more healthy. Be ready to make significant lifestyle changes, including exercising regularly and eating healthier foods. On average, you can expect to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. If you need to lose 50 pounds, for example, be prepared for it to take you about a year to lose that weight. However, you may see changes in your testosterone levels before you reach your weight-loss goal. Eliminate excess sugar that can block testosterone production. Cutting back on sweets is tied to weight loss, but even if you don't need to lose weight, eliminating most of the sugar in your diet can help raise your testosterone levels. Cookies, candy, and pastries are obvious culprits, but there's also sugar in a lot of frozen or processed foods. Check the ingredients panel on anything you eat. Keep in mind that you might not see the word "sugar," but you'll see words like "glucose," "fructose," "dextrose," and "sucrose." These are all types of sugar that are frequently found in processed foods. Include cholesterol in your diet so your body can make testosterone more easily. Your body synthesizes testosterone from cholesterol and fat that comes from the foods you eat. The fats and cholesterol from animal products, including meat, eggs, and dairy foods, is particularly important to make testosterone. While a low-fat or plant-based diet might help you lose weight, limiting your consumption of animal products won't help raise your testosterone levels. Some healthy foods you can eat that have the fat and cholesterol your body needs to produce testosterone include lean red meat, seafood, egg yolks, cheese, coconut oil, and dark chocolate. Eat foods fortified with vitamin D to stimulate testosterone production. Your body needs vitamin D to produce testosterone, and if you're not getting enough of it, you may have lower testosterone levels as a result. Unfortunately, it doesn't occur naturally in many foods. However, many foods and drinks, particularly fruit juices and dairy products, have vitamin D added. You can also get vitamin D through cod liver oil supplements. Your body naturally produces vitamin D when you go outside in the sun, so spend some time outside whenever you can. Remember to wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Consume foods rich in zinc to support healthy bodily functions. Zinc increases long-term testosterone production, so low levels of zinc can contribute to low levels of testosterone. Foods that are rich in zinc include meat, fish, dairy products, beans, and some nuts and seeds. If you're eating a primarily plant-based diet, you might want to consider a zinc supplement. It can be difficult to get enough zinc purely from plants. Talk to your doctor about adding a supplement to your diet. Avoid herbal supplements that aren't proven to affect testosterone. There are many herbal supplements, such as fenugreek, ginkgo biloba, and longjack root, that claim to naturally raise testosterone levels. However, these supplements aren't regulated and haven't been effective at increasing testosterone in scientific studies. Supplements with chemicals such as DHEA, androstenedione, and androstenedione are also marketed as products that will help boost your testosterone. However, they typically don't do anything to increase testosterone production, and may actually increase estrogen production. Get your testosterone levels tested if you're worried they're low. Getting your testosterone levels tested is a simple blood test. Your doctor will likely want to perform the test early in the morning because that's when your testosterone levels are highest. Wear a short-sleeved shirt when you go for the test so the technician who draws your blood will have easier access to your veins. When your blood is collected, you'll feel a quick pinprick on your skin. You may have some bruising on your arm around the injection site. However, this usually goes away after a couple of days. Your blood sample will be sent to a lab and analyzed. You'll likely find out the results of the test in a few days. Test your vitamin levels for deficiencies that can affect your testosterone. If your testosterone is low, a vitamin deficiency might be to blame. Vitamin deficiencies can also cause other health problems. Your doctor can test your vitamin levels. You might also want to keep a food diary so you can analyze the nutrients you're getting from food. Your doctor can go over your food diary with you and recommend changes that will ensure you're getting adequate nutrition from your food. They might also refer you to a nutritionist. Generally, your body absorbs vitamins better from food than from a supplement. However, if you're significantly deficient in a particular nutrient, supplements may be the best way to improve your levels. Talk to your doctor if natural approaches aren't working. It can take some time for changes to your diet and lifestyle to have an effect on your testosterone levels. Don't expect these changes to make a noticeable difference within a few weeks. However, if you've been living a healthy lifestyle for several months and your testosterone levels are still low, your doctor may want to put you on testosterone replacement therapy. With this therapy, you're essentially given testosterone. There are several different delivery methods used, including a skin patch, swallowing capsules, and injections. Your doctor may recommend a particular delivery method for you based on your condition.	Reduce stress hormones that interfere with testosterone production. Engage in brief high-intensity workouts to stimulate testosterone production. Get at least 9 hours of sleep each night to give your body time to produce testosterone. Make a plan to lose weight if you are overweight. Eliminate excess sugar that can block testosterone production. Include cholesterol in your diet so your body can make testosterone more easily. Eat foods fortified with vitamin D to stimulate testosterone production. Consume foods rich in zinc to support healthy bodily functions. Avoid herbal supplements that aren't proven to affect testosterone. Get your testosterone levels tested if you're worried they're low. Test your vitamin levels for deficiencies that can affect your testosterone. Talk to your doctor if natural approaches aren't working.
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Blackheads	How to Remove Blackheads	To remove blackheads, start by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water to remove any germs. Then, gently pick or pop your blackheads using your fingers. Alternatively, combine 1 tablespoon of honey with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Next, rub the mixture onto your skin for 3 minutes, and wash it off to pull the blackheads out from your pores. You can also make an egg white mask by applying the whites from 2 eggs to your face. Let the mask dry for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it off with warm water.	Only pick or pop your blackheads after thorough hand washing. It's possible to pop blackheads without scarring, as long as you do it cleanly and carefully. When done correctly, this popping method is a fast, effective way to clear up your pores. Don't use your own blackhead removal tools. Many stores now sell blackhead removing instruments so that you can give yourself an at-home facial. However, these tools often get full of bacteria and can scar your skin. Leave using steel instruments to the professionals and stick to using cleansers and exfoliants. Avoid ultra-abrasive exfoliants. If you have sensitive skin, using harsh exfoliants can just irritate it and make your blackheads worse. If you are ever in pain from an exfoliant, stop using it and go with a more gentle cleanser. Try using oatmeal as the most gentle exfoliant if you are having issues with harsher scrubs. Wash your face twice daily. A good face-cleansing routine is essential to prevent blackheads from forming in the first place. Talk to a dermatologist and experiment to see what works best for your skin. Wash your pillowcases. Your pillowcases catch dead skin cells and excess oil from your face when you sleep on them at night. Wash them at least once a week to remove the buildup of dirt from the fabric to help keep your face clear of blackheads. Don't touch your face. Even if you aren't picking at your blackheads, touching your face transfers bacteria from your hands to your face. Your hands are the dirtiest part of your body and are often the cause of many cases of blackheads. Avoid resting your face on your hands or needlessly touching your skin. Use honey and cinnamon. Honey is a natural antibiotic and works to pull out dirt from your open pores. Mix a tablespoon of honey with ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon and use your fingers to dab it onto your dry skin. Rub it in a circular motion for three minutes and then wash off with warm water. Make sure to wash your hands before you start applying the mask. Try an egg-white mask. Egg whites help to tighten pores and pull out any clogged dirt, giving you smooth, clear skin. A simple egg white mask is a great way to remove blackheads and help your skin feel fresh and clean. Create a clay mask. There are many different kinds of cosmetic clay available to purchase in a powdered form, each with the specialized property of drying out oily pores and removing unwanted residue. Mix a tablespoon of powdered clay with enough apple cider vinegar to make a paste, and spread it over your face. Leave it for 10-15 minutes until it is dry to the touch, and then rinse off with warm water. Cleanse with oatmeal and yogurt. The lactic acid in yogurt and the calming qualities of oatmeal mix to create an effective blackhead-blocking formula. Use this simple mask once a week to keep your skin clear and fresh. Use a paste of fenugreek. Fenugreek? That's right - use the leafy green blended with water to form a paste. Besides its numerous other health benefits, fenugreek has shown promising results for removing blackheads. Spread this paste over your face and allow it to sit for ten minutes, and then rinse off. Try turmeric and mint juice. Both spices you likely have in your kitchen cupboard, turmeric and mint help to clean out dirty pores. Create a brew of mint tea and allow it to cool. Then, add two tablespoons of the liquid with a tablespoon of turmeric powder and apply it to your face. Leave it on for ten minutes and then rinse off with warm water. Make an epsom salt cleansing solution. Epsom salt mixed with iodine form a bacteria-fighting combo perfect for removing blackheads. Mix a tablespoon of epsom salt with hot water and a few drops of iodine. Let this mixture sit, stirring occasionally to dissolve the salt completely into the hot water. Then, use a bit of cotton to dab the solution onto your skin, allowing it to dry onto your face. Then gently rinse the mixture off with clean warm water. Try a lemon and salt exfoliant. The purifying qualities of lemon mixed with the scrubbing effects of salt help to remove all the grime buried deep in your pores. Mix lemon juice with a tablespoon of yogurt, a tablespoon of salt, and a bit of honey. Use this to scrub your blackhead-prone areas for 2-3 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Make a green tea scrub. Green tea is great to drink, and also great for refreshing your skin. Packed full of nutrients, a green tea scrub works to remove dirt while supplying your face with healthy antioxidants. Mix a fine green tea mix with a bit of water and rub over your face. If you want, you can leave it to set for 2-3 minutes after your scrub, and then simply rinse off with warm water. Use baking soda to exfoliate. Baking soda is one of those magical substances in life that is great for myriad purposes. Besides being a natural cleanser, the fine grain of the powder is perfect for clearing away dead skin cells. Mix cornmeal with your facial soap. Cornmeal is used as an abrasive exfoliant when combined with your regular liquid facial soap. Mix a teaspoon of the cornmeal with your favorite face wash and scrub your face gently in a circular pattern. Be careful not to scrub too roughly, as this could inadvertently damage your skin. Rinse the soap and cornmeal off with warm water. Use a milk and nutmeg solution. Possibly the best smelling exfoliant, the lactic acid of milk combined with the tough granules of nutmeg remove your blackheads quickly and in a pain-free manner. Mix a tablespoon of milk (particularly buttermilk) with enough nutmeg to create a paste. Apply this mixture to your face while gently scrubbing to remove dead skin and dirt. Then use regular warm water to rinse the mixture clear of your skin. Try a store-bought exfoliant. If you aren't up for making your own exfoliator at home, look into exfoliating products at your local beauty supply or drugstore. Use these on a regular basis to help clean out your pores and remove your pesky blackheads. Use pore cleansing strips. These are great little strips of a cotton material backed with an ultra-sticky solution that dries to your face. Follow the package directions by getting your face damp and applying the strips to your blackhead-prone areas. Wait 15 minutes for the strips to dry, and then rip them off quickly to pull out your blackheads. This option offers immediate results, but must be followed by one of the aforementioned cleansing routines in order to give long-term results as well. Try a facial peel. Gels containing salicylic acid dissolve away the dead skin and dirt that gets trapped in your pores. Purchase a salicylic acid peel from your nearest drugstore or visit a local spa for a professional treatment. Use by applying in a thin layer to the affected area, allow time to set, and then rinse off with warm water. Get microdermabrasion. This is a special spa process which works by using a specialized brush and chemical cleanser to clean out dead skin cells. These are often only available at spas and your dermatologist's office, but some beauty supply stores offer an at-home version. Get these treatments on a regular basis in order to receive the best results. Use a retinoid cream. Retinoid creams are packed full of skin-approved vitamin A, which helps to improve skin growth and prevent oil buildup. You can find retinoid creams at your favorite drugstores. Use 2-3 times a week in addition to your regular skin cleaning routine to keep your pores blackhead free. Get a facial. Although using a blackhead removal-tool on your own can cause damage to your skin, getting a professional facial can give you the same immediate results with blackhead removing tools. Ask your dermatologist or esthetician for different facials that are offered and decide on which is best for your skin type. Getting these blackhead facials once every 2-4 weeks can help to keep your skin clear over time.	Only pick or pop your blackheads after thorough hand washing. Don't use your own blackhead removal tools. Avoid ultra-abrasive exfoliants. Wash your face twice daily. Wash your pillowcases. Don't touch your face. Use honey and cinnamon. Try an egg-white mask. Create a clay mask. Cleanse with oatmeal and yogurt. Use a paste of fenugreek. Try turmeric and mint juice. Make an epsom salt cleansing solution. Try a lemon and salt exfoliant. Make a green tea scrub. Use baking soda to exfoliate. Mix cornmeal with your facial soap. Use a milk and nutmeg solution. Try a store-bought exfoliant. Use pore cleansing strips. Try a facial peel. Get microdermabrasion. Use a retinoid cream. Get a facial.