Get Wrinkles Out Of Dress Pants Without Ironing

Wrinkles in your work clothes can be unsightly.

Noticing wrinkles in your dress pants while you are getting ready for work can cause time issues if you are already running late. Ironing your pants is a commitment that does not allow you do do anything else. In other words, when you are ironing, you cannot do any other activity as ironing takes time and concentration. If you do not need your pants too look like they came straight from the dry cleaners, there is an easier solution to wrinkles. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Lay your pants out over a flat surface in a similar fashion as the picture above.

2. Fill a cup or any other container available with water.

3. Place your hand in the water and remove your hand from the water.

4. Lightly splash your pants with the water on your hand. Make sure that you are splashing your entire pants and not just the wrinkled areas.

5. Do not overly wet your pants. You should probably only put your hand into water three times to splash your pants in order to avoid having your pants being too wet.

6. Place your pants into your dryer for three to five minutes on high heat.

7. Remove your pants once the cycle is done. The wrinkles in your pants should be gone.

Tags: your pants, your hand, pants should, Place your, splash your

Gain Weight While Running

Running for exercise helps to keep your body fat low. If you would like to gain weight while running, you will need to add some weight training to your exercise regimen. Weight training will not only help you gain muscle weight, it will also help your running. By doing exercises such as the wood chop and abdominal crunch after each run, you are strengthening your core muscles, toning your abs and gaining muscle weight to help maintain your running form throughout long distances.

Instructions

1. Warm up and stretch before your run.

2. Start running at your fitness level. Make sure you are wearing well-stabilized running shoes to support the weight and impact of running.

3. Cool down and stretch your muscles after running. Don't forget to hydrate throughout your work out.

4. Start doing the wood chop strengthening exercise to increase your muscle mass by working out your your hips, shoulders, quads, glutes, back and core muscles. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a five- to eight-pound medicine ball in your hands. Squat down with the ball between your knees and keep your heels on the floor and stick your buttocks out. Do not let your knees go more than a few inches toward your toes. Stand and raise your medicine ball overhead while maintaining a slight bend in your knees. Do this while keeping your core muscles engaged the whole time. Repeat two or three times with sets of 12 to 15 reps.

5. Start the abdominal crunches and lie face up on your mat. Bend your knees and bring your heels close to your buttocks while crossing you hands over your chest. Next, curl your upper body slowly towards your knees while letting your shoulder blades should rise up and leave the floor. Contract your abdominal muscles while crunching. Hold the position for a moment then slowly allow your upper body to curl back to the floor. Repeat the abdominal crunch two or three times with sets of 12 to 15 reps, depending on your comfort and fitness level.

6. Stretch again when you are done with strength training. Stretching will help to soothe and relax your muscles and help prevent injuries.

Tags: your knees, core muscles, abdominal crunch, fitness level, keep your

Know If A Guy Is Not Ready For A Relationship

Hearing the same excuse over and over is a sign of a guy who is not ready for a relationship.

Determining whether a guy is ready for a relationship is important. Everyone needs to know if a guy is worth their time and feelings. Relationships require both sides to make a commitment. A guy has to want to show you a good time and care about your feelings. With that in mind, you will need to think about the recent events and actions as well as judge him based on his actions and not his words.

Instructions

1. Notice how many times he calls you and the reasons behind his calls. If he hardly calls you and does not answer your phone calls, chances are he is a guy who is not ready for a relationship.

2. Ask him how he feels about seeing other people. If he tells you it is not okay but seems hesitant, then ask him how he feels about relationships. If he tells you that he has not thought of it or he is not ready for it now, then he is not serious about you.

3. Ask yourself if every interaction when he calls or takes you out leads to sex. If that is the case, he is using you and will never commit. This shows that he can have sex with you and have no feelings for you. A guy like this is hard to change.

4. Judge him by his actions and not his words. A guy who talks about his family and friends a lot seems like a guy who likes to share. Consider how many times he actually took you to meet his family or friends. If he has not, then he is not ready for a relationship.

5. Consider if he makes plans for the two of you to go out. A guy who cares about you will not sit and wait for you to make plans. Do not ask him to do something all the time. If he does not initiate it, then he is a guy who is ready for a relationship.

6. Give him the keys for your place and ask him for his. A guy who is serious will not mind exchanging keys. A guy who refuses to do so is someone who is hiding something, and chances are he is not ready for a relationship.

Tags: ready relationship, actions words, chances ready, chances ready relationship, family friends

Get More Oxygen Into Your Blood And Body

Outdoor air is rich in oxygen.

The flow of oxygen to all parts of your body is a matter of life and death. Sufficient oxygen in your blood means that red blood cells are 95 to 100 percent saturated with oxygen, according to Harvard Health Publications. The blood oxygen level is easily estimated by a pulse oximeter, which clips on your finger. The arterial gas test, which requires taking a small amount of blood from an artery, not a vein, is a more accurate way to measure oxygen saturation. You can increase your oxygen saturation level.

Exercise

Exercise increases the amount of oxygen in your blood and body by increasing your heart rate and lung capacity. Regular exercise improves cardiac function and muscle tone, which enhances circulation and delivery of oxygen to all parts of your body. Even people who suffer from low oxygen saturation because of chronic diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) can increase their blood oxygen levels with exercise. Patients on oxygen therapy will be able to reduce the amount of oxygen needed.

Deep Breathing

Deep breathing exercises increase blood oxygen levels. Inhale slowly, holding your breath for as long as you can. Expand your lungs and also use your abdomen when you inhale. Exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat the procedure for at least several minutes. Perform daily breathing exercises while standing, sitting or lying down.

Oxygen-Rich Air

Getting outdoors is a great way to increase your blood oxygen level. Trees and plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Avoid carbon-dioxide-rich air and second-hand smoke-polluted air. Increase the amount of fresh air in your home, office and car for better blood oxygenation.

Vitamins

Oxygen binds to the hemoglobin in red blood cells. Anything that promotes or increases hemoglobin or red cell production may increase oxygen levels. Vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin C are required for red blood cell production. Deficiency or lower-than-normal amounts of these vitamins leads to anemia, low red blood cell concentration. Anemia is characterized by pale or yellowish skin, shortness of breath and lack of well-being. Deficiency of vitamins C, B12 or folic acid occurs if your diet is deficient in these vitamins or if your body is unable to absorb them as occurs in intestinal disorders and other diseases. Some prescription medications may cause vitamin deficiencies, and smoking interferes with vitamin C absorption.

Oxygen Therapy

When blood oxygen levels are too low due to disease, you may need oxygen therapy. During oxygen therapy, you obtain your oxygen with nasal tubes or a face mask from a metal or other type of container. If you have a chronic condition such as COPD, you can use oxygen therapy at home. Oxygen therapy decreases fatigue, improves sleep and shortness of breath. Portable oxygen therapy units allow you to go on with most of your daily activities.

Tags: blood oxygen, oxygen levels, blood oxygen levels, oxygen saturation, your body, amount oxygen, blood cell

Lose Weight & Get Abs Quickly

Running on the treadmill will help you lose weight.

Rapidly getting a flat, toned stomach and losing weight both require adjustments to your lifestyle. Doing countless sit-ups and crunches will never get you a flat stomach and will not remove the fat layer covering up your abdominals. To get that desirable toned stomach and to lose weight, you will have to reduce your overall body fat. Just targeting one part of the body does not work when it comes to fat and weight loss; you will need a whole-body approach.

Instructions

1. Eliminate all results-sabotaging foods from your diet, including cookies, candy, french fries and hamburgers, white bread, white rice, alcohol and caffeine. Choose healthy fare such as fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish, brown rice, whole-wheat bread, raw nuts and olive oil.

2. Remind yourself to eat a small meal every three hours to keep your metabolism stimulated. Prepare small meals ahead of time if needed and avoid consuming anything two to three hours before you go to sleep. Try to eat your carbohydrates early in the day so they have plenty of time to digest.

3. Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water daily and sip at least three cups of green tea. Redbook magazine states that green tea speeds up your metabolism for faster weight loss and water promotes fat metabolism and digestive health.

4. Melt fat from the body by doing interval training three days per week. The Mayo Clinic website claims that same-intensity cardio doesn't burn as many calories and fat as interval training does. Ride a bike at a comfortable pace for two to four minutes before speeding up to a high intensity sprint for two to four minutes. Go back and forth between intensities and work toward doing this for 30 to 45 minutes.

5. Tone up the muscles of your entire body with strength-training exercises. Use dumbbell or barbell weights, or your own body weight. Execute push-ups, biceps curls, triceps extensions, lunges, squats, crunches, reverse crunches, bent-over rows and any other exercises you can do to increase all-over muscle tissue.

6. Learn do the stomach vacuum so you can work your transverse abdominals, which act like a corset around your waist, anytime and anywhere. Sit up or stand up and place your hands on your hips. Exhale all air from your lungs and pull the bellybutton toward the spine. Hold the tummy sucked in for as long as possible as you breathe normally. Release the tension and repeat the exercise as you try to extend the time you suck in your belly. Aim to reach 60 seconds per exercise.

7. Sculpt your entire core by doing the plank exercise. Lie on your stomach on the floor with your elbows propped up next to your body and the palms of your hands on the floor. Come up on your toes and elbows and raise your entire body up as if to form a plank. Secure your elbows underneath your shoulders and hold your tummy in tightly while squeezing your legs and buttock muscles. Keep your hips from dropping to the floor. Hold the position for as long as you can before lowering yourself back to the starting position. Challenge yourself each time you do the plank by extending the time you hold yourself up.

8. Give your body a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting enough sleep will make you more productive while you are awake, and it will also reduce your risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and depression.

Tags: your body, your entire, entire body, four minutes, from your, interval training

Have A Flat Tummy

One of the toughest things for people to do when working out is achieving a flat stomach. Many people are always working on getting six-pack abs. There is a way to get a trim, lean stomach, but it consists of a proper and healthy diet in conjunction with exercise that works the abdominal muscles.

Instructions

1. Walk or jog daily for at least 30 minutes. Make sure that the walking or jogging is brisk to increase your heart rate. Doing this will increase your metabolism and help you burn fat much faster.

2. Do stomach crunches a minimum of three times per week. Stomach crunches are done by lying flat on the floor, bending your knees, and having your feet flat on the floor and your arms at your side. Tighten your stomach muscles and lift your shoulders off the ground. Hold and release. Repeat as many times as possible, increasing the number at each workout if possible.

3. Add plenty of fiber to your diet but stay away from carbohydrates such as potatoes, white rice, white bread and pasta. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit. Green leafy vegetables are a good diet choice.

4. Drink six to eight glasses per day of water. This flushes the digestion of your body and allows you to lose weight faster. Water also fills you up, which means you will eat less.

5. Avoid eating a minimum of three hours before going to bed. Consume smaller, more frequent meals daily as opposed to two or three big meals to avoid bloating. Munch on a handful of almonds for a healthy snack as they help burn fat.

Tags: flat floor, help burn, increase your, minimum three

Keep Your Energy Level Up On A Trail Run

Eat and drink the right things before and during a trail run to keep your energy and performance at optimal levels.

Instructions

1. Stretch and warm up thoroughly before setting out for a run.

2. Run a variety of trails. Find three or four different trails to run every week.

3. Hydrate yourself. Drink at least a liter of water or sports drink up to 2 hours before a long run, and a cup or two right before you begin.

4. Continue to drink water or sports drinks on a long run, in hot weather, or at high altitudes. Carry a water bottle or wear a backpack hydration system.

5. Eat high-carbohydrate foods like bananas and bagels, sports gels, and energy bars before and during your run, and wash everything down with water. One food item per hour of exercise should be sufficient - take a nibble every 15 minutes or so as you go.

6. Pace yourself. The surest way to run out of energy is by starting out too fast and wasting your reserves before they're needed.

7. Slow down on steep ascents and use gravity to your advantage on descents.

8. Maintain a steady pace on flats or rolling terrain.

9. Try to drink or eat while running on easier sections of trail. Or stop running if in a difficult section (rocky, wet, roots, etc.) while you grab a bite or sip. Another option is to run in place while fueling up.

10. Focus on your surroundings, not on your muscles - the beauty of a trail is a great distraction from aches and pains. If you absorb the scenery, you may forget how hard you're working.

11. Stretch immediately after a run.

Tags: before during, water sports

Get Rid Of Post Nasal Drip

Get Rid of Post Nasal Drip

Post Nasal Drip is the uncomfortable feeling you get in the back of your throat when your sinuses drain and drip rather than draining out of your nostrils. Postnasal drip can be caused by sinus problems, nasal allergy and colds. This is common is during allergy season and cold a flu season. The symptoms of post nasal drip are coughing, bad taste in the mouth, feeling of something stuck in the back of your throat, constantly trying to clear your throat and a tickle in your throat. There are many post nasal drip remedies available by prescription and over the counter, but not all are effective and many have unwanted side effects. Try one or all of these ways to get rid of post nasal drip.

Instructions

1. Keep humidity in your environment. Do not allow the air in your home to become too dry. Dry air will cause the mucous to become thicker and worsen the post nasal drip.

2. Drink plenty of fluids to thin out the mucous, but avoid milk products. Milk products thicken the mucous.

3. Use a salt water nasal spray. Salt water nasal spray is a great post nasal drip cure because it works in 2 ways first the salt will dry out the mucous that drips into your throat. Secondly, the salt creates a hostile environment for bacteria and will help to prevent a sinus infection. Salt water nasal sprays or saline nasal sprays are available over the counter at pharmacies.

4. Stay away from spicy foods. Spicy foods tend to make your nasal passages drain and if your suffer from post nasal drip the mucous will drain down the back of your throat and worsen your symptoms.

5. Use a Neti Pot to flush out thick mucous from your nose.

6. Gargle with salt water to clear the dry mucous from the back of your throat. Mix approximately 1/2 of a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and gargle. Avoid this post nasal drip remedy if you suffer from high blood pressure.

7. Blow your nose often to clear nasal passages.

Tags: your throat, post nasal, back your, back your throat, nasal drip, post nasal drip, water nasal

Make Pizza Low Fat

You do not have to choose between high fat and flavor.

If you are trying to watch your fat intake, you do not have to choose between fat and flavor when you make a pizza. Many low-fat products are available that make a pizza taste good, including vegetarian “meat” options that taste great with little fat. Here is make a low fat pizza.

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the nutritional information that is included on most food labels. Look for the part of the label that says, “Total Fat.” You want this number to be as low as possible, as a low-fat diet is under 40 g of fat in a day. Below “Total Fat” is “Saturated Fat.” This is the “bad fat,” so you want this number to be as close to zero as possible.

2. Find a low-fat pizza crust. Flour, which is the main ingredient in a pizza crust, is low in fat. Look for a pizza crust that does not have butter or heavy oil added.

3. Purchase a low-fat pizza sauce or tomato sauce. Tomatoes do not have fat in them, so it is easy to find a tomato sauce that is low in fat. Look for a tomato sauce that does not have a lot of additives, such as oil, that add fat. Using the back of a spoon, spread the pizza or tomato sauce onto the pizza crust, up to an inch from the edge of the crust.

4. Buy low-fat mozzarella cheese. While fat-free cheese provides the least amount of fat, it does not always melt well or taste as good. Instead, select one of the 2-percent options, which are low in fat but still melt like regular cheese. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the pizza or tomato sauce.

5. Select low-fat toppings. Most fresh vegetables are going to be low in fat. If you prefer meat toppings, consider trying some of the many vegetarian options that are available. Most vegetarian meats are low in fat, and many taste like the real thing, especially on a pizza. Vegetarian Italian sausage crumbles are particularly good and can often fool non-vegetarians. Place the low-fat toppings on top of the cheese.

6. Liberally apply spices. Spices are fat-free, so use all you want. A sprinkling of Italian seasoning, oregano or basil can add flavor to your low fat pizza without adding fat. Sprinkle the spices on top of the cheese and toppings.

7. Cook your pizza at 350 degrees F for 7 to 9 minutes (or follow the instructions that came with the pizza crust). Then, enjoy a tasty, low-fat meal.

Tags: pizza crust, tomato sauce, make pizza, choose between, does have, have choose

Make A Scrapbook With Old High School Newspaper Clippings

Your high school newspaper clippings can help you relive your high school years.

Scrapbooking offers a way to remember past events in your life in a visual, organized manner. A high school scrapbook can help you relive your high school years in the future and remind you of things you don't want to forget. If your high school operated its own newspaper, you can use the clippings to help create your scrapbook and tell the story of your high school years without having to write anything yourself.

Instructions

1. Cut out the articles, pictures or other elements that you want to use in your scrapbook. Check the backs of each page before you cut to make sure there isn't something you want on the other side as well. If there is, make a photocopy of one side of the page.

2. Arrange the clippings in a single layer in a 9-inch by 13-inch glass pan. Cover the clippings in distilled water at least an inch deep.

3. Soak the clippings for at least 20 minutes, changing the water if it turns yellow.

4. Remove the clippings from the water carefully and arrange them on a towel to dry. The ideal temperature for drying is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooler temperatures take longer to dry and warmer temperatures create curling, which will remedy when you glue the clippings into your scrapbook.

5. Spray the clippings with deacidification spray to remove the acid from the paper. This process helps to preserve the paper and prevent yellowing and decay in the future.

6. Sort the clippings into themes or categories to more easily arrange them onto pages. For instance, separate out any dance-related clippings, sports clippings and theatrical clippings. You may also want to sort the clippings by year.

7. Select scrapbooking paper that reflects the theme for each set of clippings. For example, football paper works well for sports articles, balloon paper works for dances, and music notes or drama masks work for theatrical clippings.

8. Organize the articles onto each page. You may need more than one page for each theme or category depending on the number of clippings and their size.

9. Dab a small amount of glue onto the four corners of the paper to secure each clipping onto the page. Do not smear glue over the entire back of the clipping because this will cause wrinkling.

10. Add embellishments that match the theme or category with which you are working. Write any additional notes onto each page to help you remember the significance of the clippings and other related events.

Tags: high school, each page, high school years, school years, your high school, your scrapbook

Lose Weight And Burn Calories

Lose Weight and Burn Calories

It is always good to burn calories to loose weight. The question is how many calories do you need to burn each week so that you loose weight? But the real question is intake of calories because if you take in say 2500 calories and you only want to have 200 per day, then it is very hard to bur off 500 calories. A lot of work out machines have a calorie counter but every body burn calories at a different rate so they can be not as accurate to use.

Instructions

1. Also it is hard to burn 300 calories in a work out session and that be accurate. Also it is in question that burning calories leads to burning fat. In fact some statistics show that weight training does more good for burning fat. Using strength training can be a great way to burn more calories in a less amount of time.

2. You bodies muscles will burn fat even after the work out is over when you use weight and interval training. Remember that when you are counting calories it should be done when you are eating or your intake of food because you will have better success with your weight loss when you are controlling your intake and not just relying on burning whatever you eat.

3. Remember that you can workout for an hour and intake 600 calories in 2 minutes and you will accomplish nothing. It is very important to combine a weight training program with a calorie intake program and this will help you get lean and healthy.

Tags: burn calories, calories work, intake calories, loose weight, Lose Weight

Get Faster For Baseball

Get faster for baseball with strength training.

Speed can help a baseball player run faster around the bases and in the field. Because running faster does not occur without effort, a baseball player must train to attain faster running speeds. With proper muscle training and development, you can make your leg muscles stronger and longer, which can help you become a faster baseball player. Get faster for baseball by practicing your sprinting skills two to three times per week. Also, utilize special base-running techniques that can cut your time around the bases significantly.

Instructions

1. Stand near a surface that you can grasp and pull one bent leg behind you so your heel rests on your back hip. Hold the stretch for several seconds and switch legs. Repeat this two to three times to stretch your quadriceps muscles.

2. Walk on your heels for approximately 45 seconds to stretch your calf muscles.

3. Take off running at a sprint, running as fast as you can, and run for between 20 and 40 yards. Stop running at the end of the distance as quickly as you started.

4. Rest for two to three minutes while walking around to keep your muscles warm.

5. Repeat the sprinting and resting sequence until your leg muscles feel very fatigued. The number of times you sprint and rest will depend on the strength of your leg muscles. Many athletes find they can repeat this sequence between five and 15 times.

6. Set the weight amount in a leg-press machine to achieve a strenuous workout. Position yourself in the machine and lower yourself by bending your legs at the knees. Push up on the foot rests to straighten your legs. Repeat the repetition 12 times in three sets (separate the sets with a two-minute rest).

7. Set the weight amount in a leg-extension machine to give yourself a strenuous workout. Sit on the seat of the machine and position your legs properly. Extend your legs straight out at the knee and then bend them again. Repeat the repetition 12 times in three sets (separate the sets with a two- minute rest).

8. Rest your leg muscles for 48 hours and then repeat the sprinting and weight training exercises.

Tags: your muscles, your legs, baseball player, faster baseball, around bases, baseball player faster

Get Epona In "Zelda Ocarina Of Time"

Get Epona in "Zelda: Ocarina of Time"

Epona has become a mainstay in the world of Zelda since her debut in "Ocarina of Time." Epona allows you to get where you are going faster than you normally could, and this horse also adds a sense of majesty to the Legend of Zelda games. You have to work to get Epona in "Ocarina of Time," but the payoff is worth it.

Instructions

1. Go to Hyrule Field and on to Lon Lon Ranch when you are still young. Speak to the young girl named Malon after you meet Princess Zelda. Malon is in the horse corral.

2. Stand in front of Malon and take out your ocarina after you've talked to her. She will teach you "Epona's Song." Epona will walk over to you, but because you are still a child, you can't mount her yet.

3. Return to Lon Lon Ranch after you have grown up. Ingo has taken over the ranch.

4. Talk to Ingo. He will allow you to ride a horse if you pay him 10 rupees. Give him the necessary rupees and play "Epona's Song" to get Epona's attention. Mount Epona and ride her until the practice time expires.

5. Dismount Epona and talk to Ingo again. Pay him another 10 rupees to ride Epona again. Get back onto Epona and use "Z-targeting" to speak to Ingo while on Epona. He will challenge you to a race that costs 50 rupees. Agree to race him.

6. Beat Ingo in the race. Keep a steady pace by using only a couple of carrots at a time. Ingo will try to smash you into a wall; use two to three carrots to zoom ahead of him when he does this.

7. Race Ingo again after you beat him. Ingo will be upset because he lost the first race and offers you Epona if you win this time. Use two to four carrots at a time to keep the lead. When you are in the lead, try your best to block Ingo from getting in front of you.

8. Escape the ranch. Once you've beaten Ingo again, he will lock down the ranch to try to stop you from leaving. Ride Epona straight toward the ranch wall -- if you build up enough speed, Epona will jump the wall and the two of you will escape to Hyrule Field.

Tags: Ocarina Time, Epona will, Ingo again, Ingo will, carrots time

Make Batting Music For Your Baseball Team

Creating a music soundtrack is a great way to build team spirit.

High school, collegiate, minor league and even major league baseball teams often play music when a player is announced before their at-bat. It is customary to allow the player to choose the music to set the "tone" or give off a "vibe." The same music for every at-bat or a rotation of several songs can be played, usually consisting of a snippet of several seconds in the middle of a song.

Instructions

1. Instruct players to each choose a song they like and note a specific portion to be played. The song should not have any derogatory lyrics or offensive language.

2. Download or upload the music to music editing software. Music can be added to the software by downloading it from a program such as iTunes, or uploading it from a previously purchased CD.

3. Select each song within the music editing software. The title will come up along with a track detailing the song's length. For instance, the left side of the track will read 0:00, while the right side of the track will be the total length of the song, such as 4:15.

4. Cut a snippet of the song. Using your editing software, select "Start" or "Cut" where you want the song to start playing and "End" or "Cut" where you want the song to stop playing. Sometimes the editing software uses an image of scissors to signify this function.

5. Create a file. After editing the first song, you will want to create a file as you save it. The file name can be name of the player who chose the song. That way, as a coach, you can change the batting order and substitute players without worrying that the wrong track will be played when someone steps to the plate. Save the first edited song to the new file under the first player's name.

6. Repeat the cutting of each song for all team members. Keep the song snippets a uniform length. Save them to the individual player file as you complete the editing of each song.

7. Burn or email the player files. Depending on the sound system in place, you might need to burn a copy of the team music for each player to "team disc," or simply email it to the announcer. To burn the file, simple select "Burn to Disk," which is usually found under the "File" tab within the music-editing program. To email select "Share" or "Send" under the same tab. Please note that the scorer or person in charge of audio for the games may prefer a certain type of audio file. Some of the most common include ".wav," a large file often used for professional audio recordings; "mpeg-1," which compresses a ".wav" to about one-twelfth of normal size; ".wma" files, which were created to compete with the mP3 format found in Windows media player (about one-third the size of those files); and finally the ".ogg" file, which is also similar to mP3 files but is also compressed to a great degree.

Tags: editing software, each song, track will, music editing, music editing software

Lace A Roller Hockey Skate

Properly laced skates are essential to playing hockey.

You might wonder what all the fuss about a properly laced hockey skate is about. After all, you lace and tie your own sneakers by yourself just fine. However, with the force and pressures that are exerted on your ankle during skating, it is very important to practice the correct procedure when lacing those skates up.

Instructions

1. Lace from the bottom, where the tongue of the skate begins. Pull snugly, but not tightly as you go.

2. Pull tightly on the laces once you reach the fourth or fifth eyelet. Continue lacing tightly until you reach the top of the skate.

3. Double knot the laces when you reach the top. Hockey skate laces are often long and you want to ensure that you do not trip on any excess lacing. If you have A LOT of excess lacing, consider wrapping the lace repeatedly around the ankle portion of the skate before knotting the lace.

4. Test out your lacing job by skating around for a few minutes. Both loose lacing and lacing that is too tight can lead to injuries.

Tags: excess lacing

Make An Essay Appear Longer Than It Is

Sometimes we can only write so much in an essay. When a teacher wants a specific number of pages and we've done all the work we can, it's time to get creative. There are several little tricks that will make an essay look longer than it actually is.

Instructions

1. Know the requirements of the essay. Be certain that you know how many pages are expected before you start filling out the space in the paper. If you only need to add a half page, there are more subtle ways of adding length than a paper that needs two extra pages.

2. Reread your essay and look for areas where you can add padding to your work. One way to fluff up an essay is to write it all in the passive voice. This method adds a few extra words per sentence. Another option is to expand topics you didn't cover in depth.

3. Double space your entire work. Double spacing is the easiest way to increase the length of your essay. This method pushes the writing to its longest. However if your paper is already double spaced, try to make it double and a half. Never do triple space because it becomes obvious.

4. Increase the size of your font. If your entire essay is written in 10-point font, jack it up to a 12 point. Go higher than a 12-point font though, and the paper begins to look odd and like you are trying to beef it up. Larger fonts are usually too big, but 12.5 is a possibility.

5. Indent every paragraph. This will tack a great deal of space onto the end of your essay.

Tags: your essay, essay look, This method, your entire

Handle A Charley Horse Muscle Spasm

Wearing high heels all day can cause a charley horse.

A charley horse is a muscle cramp or spasm, a painful, involuntary contraction of the muscle, often in the calf or foot, causing moderate to severe pain. Charley horses occur most often while exercising, playing sports, after wearing high heels, or lying in bed, especially after vigorous exercise. Dehydration, overexertion and muscle fatigue are significant risk factors. Stretching prior to exercise may reduce the likelihood of experiencing a charley horse. A charley horse may last a few seconds or minutes.

Instructions

Daytime Charley Horse

1. Hold the cramping muscle with your hand. Massage the cramping muscle gently. Pull back on your toes with your other hand.

2. Point your toes upward to stretch the muscle and help relieve the cramp.

3. Walk around with your weight on your heels.

4. Apply ice packs for severe pain, especially if stretching and walking don't help.

5. Drink water or a sports drink if the charley horse occurs after strenuous exercise to help rehydrate your body.

Nighttime Charley Horse

6. Sleep on your side with your toes pointed to prevent nighttime charley horses.

7. Avoid tightly tucking-in your blankets and sheets. Tightly-tucked sheets can cause your toes to bend down.

8. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Reduce the risk of mineral deficiencies by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

9. Hold the cramping muscle with your hand. Massage the cramping muscle gently. Pull back on your toes with your other hand.

10. Point your toes upward to stretch the muscle and help relieve the cramp.

Tags: with your, your toes, cramping muscle, charley horse, back your, back your toes

Have A Disney Animated Classics Movie Marathon

Disney has become a household name in classic family films for years. Since 1937, Walt Disney Studios has released upwards of 50 feature-length animated films. While there can be much debate over which is considered the best of these beloved films, it is worthwhile to watch a varied collection in order to get a true glimpse at the type of animated magic Disney has been providing for generations. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Start out with "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, this film was a variety of firsts. Not only the first full-length feature film produced by Disney, it was also the first animated feature film produced in America as well as the first produced in full color. This film is a part of the National Film Registry, which preserves up to 25 "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films" each year to showcase the diversity of American film heritage.

2. Watch "Pinocchio." Made after the success of Snow White, this film is based on the story "Pinocchio: Tale of a Puppet" by Carlo Collodi. A magical blue fairy tells the wooden puppet Pinocchio he can become a real boy if he promises to be "brave, truthful, and unselfish." Desperate to fulfill these requirements, Pinocchio sets off for many adventures that introduce him to a variety of characters from Honest John and Gideon to Stromboli. This film is also a member of the National Film Registry.

3. Watch "Fantasia." The third feature-length film from Disney, this one is most unique because the animation is set to classical music with no dialogue spoken throughout--aside from a spoken introduction. Sorcerer Mickey, star of Fantasia, has charmed audiences for years with orchestral selections such as "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," "The Rite of Spring" and "Dance of the Hours." This film is also a member of the National Film Registry.

4. Watch "Cinderella." This timeless story, 12th among the Disney animated feature-length films, follows the beautiful Cinderella whose cruel stepmother prevents her from attending the Royal Ball. With some help from lovable mice Gus and Jaq, and her Fairy Godmother of course, she is able to attend the ball and gain the attention of her beloved Prince. Her castle is the focal structure in Disney World's Magic Kingdom--a common photo spot for millions of Florida tourists.

5. Watch "The Jungle Book." The 19th feature film, it was the last one to be produced by Walt Disney himself as he died during its production. Join Bagheera the Panther and Baloo the Bear as they go to great lengths to convince young Mowgli to leave the jungle for human civilization.

6. Watch "Beauty and the Beast." The 30th feature-length film and modern classic is based on the fairy tale "La Belle et la Bête" by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont, showcasing the story of Belle, whose father Maurice is imprisoned by a terrible beast. Belle offers herself in place of her father as prisoner in the Beast's castle and works with the help of some enchanted friends to find the prince inside the Beast. This film, the first animated movie to be nominated for a best-picture Oscar, is also a member of the National Film Registry. It was turned into a stage version seen on Broadway for 13 years, making it the sixth-longest running production in Broadway history.

7. Research the other dozens of films that Disney has produced since 1937 and see which have the most intriguing plot lines to you--and watch those as well. Each animated Disney film has its own appeal and charm, with a storyline to please any age group.

Tags: Film Registry, National Film, National Film Registry, also member, also member National, feature film

Get The Mask Of Truth In Zelda Ocarina Of Time

Masks are a feature in Zelda: Ocarina of Time that were put to great use in its sequel, but they are still fun and useful in this game. You can make people say funny things, get into crazy situations, make money and get items from these masks. Little side quests like these are what make Zelda one of the best video games in history.

Instructions

1. Go to the Hyrule Market as a child and find an oddly shaped store with what looks like eyes coming off the top of it. The store is right next to the Temple of Time, to the left of Zelda's Castle.

2. Read the huge billboard in the store, then talk to the storekeeper, who is actually wearing a mask if you look closely. He will ask you if you want to sell masks, and you will say yes.

3. Purchase the Keaton Mask for 10 rupees so you can sell it later, since the goal of this side quest is to sell all four masks. This mask can be sold to the soldier guarding the gate between Kakarakio Village and Death Mountain, and he will give you 15 rupees for the mask.

4. Return to the Happy Mask Shop and buy the Skull Mask for 20 rupees. You can sell this mask to a Skull Kid in Kokiri Forest for 10 rupees.

5. Buy the Spooky Mask for 30 rupees at the Happy Mask Shop. You can sell this mask to the kid wandering around the graveyard during the day near Kakarakio Village for 30 rupees.

6. Shop again at the Happy Mask Shop, purchasing the Bunny Hood for 50 rupees. The problem with this one is that the person whom you can sell it to is running around Hyrule Field late during the day. If you're coming out of Hyrule Market, he is usually on the east path, and you must follow him until he stops and sits.

7. Revisit the Happy Mask Shop, where you will now have access to all eight masks: the Keaton Mask, Skull Mask, Spooky Mask, Bunny Hood, Zora Mask, Gerudo Mask, Goron Mask and last but not least, the Mask of Truth.

Tags: Happy Mask, Happy Mask Shop, Mask Shop, Mask rupees, Bunny Hood, Hyrule Market, Kakarakio Village

Lace Converses

Converse sneakers are a popular canvas sneaker with a rubber toe, sole and bold shoelace pattern. They were first manufactured in 1914 and were quickly made popular by basketball player Chuck Taylor; so popular, in fact, that they were actually called "chucks" after him. Lacing Converse sneakers varies depending on your personal style, but they are typically laced with bold, wide laces in a traditional crossover pattern. You must learn lace Converses properly, or you can wind up with twisted, uneven shoestrings when you are finished. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Count the number of holes in your converse sneakers. The number of holes will determine the length of shoelace you need. If your shoes have seven eyelets, buy a pair of laces that are 45 inches long. For 8 pairs of eyelets, you will need 54-inch long laces, and for 9 pairs of eyelets, you will need 63 \-inch laces.

2. Center the tongue of the shoe, and make sure it is free of any creases. Insert one end of the laces downward into the left eyelet, and then insert the other end of the lace downward into the right eyelet. Pull the laces tight so that the lace forms a straight line across the two eyelets, and then adjust the strings so that they are the same length.

3. Cross the right string upward through the left eyelet, and then cross the left string across the right string and up through the right eyelet. Pull the strings tight, because the strings through the second eyelet will help keep the tongue in place.

4. Continue crossing the laces back and forth as you move up the shoe, forming "X's" between each eyelet pair. Pull the laces through the top eyelet, and then tie them in a bow or tuck them into the sides of the shoe.

Tags: eyelet then, Converse sneakers, downward into, eyelet Pull, eyelets will, eyelets will need, left eyelet

Make A Fitness Tracking Chart

Make a Fitness Tracking Chart

The best way to become more physically fit is to keep a record of your diet and exercise and chart your progress toward your goal. Without a record-keeping system, it is hard to know if and how well your efforts are paying off. Here are some steps to make your own fitness tracking chart.

Instructions

1. Decide what you want to keep track of. For most people, weight loss is the best indicator of improved physical fitness. However, you can also chart your waist measurement, your biceps measurement, or your improving performance at exercises such as walking, running, or swimming.

2. Buy a blank poster board at an office supply store. This can be a thin, flexible sheet of cardboard or a rigid foam board. To make building the chart easier, buy a poster with a grid already on it. If you draw your own grid, make the squares large enough to allow you to write dates and other numbers beside and above them.

3. Begin at the top left, where the first vertical and horizontal lines meet (to track decreasing numbers such as weight or waist size). Draw a dot at this intersection and write the start date above it. To the left, write the number that indicates your weight, waist size or other measurement. (To track numbers that are increasing, start at the bottom left.)

4. Let each square across represent one week. Write a date in each across the top of the poster. Count the number of weeks you have to work with and determine what a safe and reasonable goal is for that number of weeks. For instance, a reasonable weight loss goal may be 2 pounds a week, so a chart that covers 20 weeks would show a weight loss goal of 40 pounds.

5. Move to the bottom right of the chart, where the last vertical and horizontal lines meet. Draw a dot at this intersection and write the goal weight or waist size below it. (To track numbers that are increasing, move to the top right.)

6. Count the number of horizontal lines between the top and bottom of the poster and divide your goal for the number of weeks represented on the chart by the number of horizontal lines. The result is the weight loss or measurement represented by each horizontal line. For example, if your chart will measure a 40-pound weight loss, and there are 20 horizontal lines, then each line represents a weight loss of about 2 pounds. Write the weight loss or measurement represented by each horizontal line at the left and right side of the chart.

7. Find something with a thin, straight edge and place it so it connects the two dots at the top left and bottom right of your chart. Draw a straight line between them. This line represents the progress you want to make toward your goal. You will mark your progress each week, as explained in Tip 2 below.

8. See if your weekly progress falls above or below the straight line you drew to represent your weekly goals. If it falls above this line, you need to make further changes to your diet or exercise routine. If it falls below this line, you are doing well and should continue with your current diet and exercise routine.

Tags: weight loss, horizontal lines, diet exercise, number weeks, waist size

Help The Poor & The Needy

You can help the poor and needy in a variety of ways.

If you want to help underprivileged people you must start by deciding what resources you have to give and how you want to allocate your resources. Besides contributing to charities that distribute food and necessities to poor people, you may wonder what else you can do to provide more or better assistance. Identifying your options for giving, including providing physical help in addition to monetary assistance, can allow you to direct your energies toward projects and programs in which you truly believe.

Instructions

1. Plan your assistance to poor and needy people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and self-esteem. If you contribute money, whenever possible contribute anonymously. The Jewish philosopher Maimonidies noted that the second highest level of charity-giving involves donating in a manner that doesn't allow the receiver to identify the giver. Maimonidies continued to teach that the highest level of charity involves giving charity in a manner that allows people to develop skills and resources so that they can earn their own money and escape from the cycle of poverty.

2. Ask poor people or charity organizations what kind of help they need before you donate what you think they want. Sometimes your physical assistance in helping to operate a charity or assist someone may prove much more helpful than a monetary donation. Some people simply need someone to talk to in order to lift their spirits. Others may gain more support from getting a ride to an appointment or having someone take them shopping than they would by receiving a check. Giving your time may provide as much help as money.

3. Find charity projects where you feel that you can make a difference. Whether you decide to donate to an individual, a small charity or a large organization, become involved on all levels. Help with fund-raising, organize activities and become an active member of an organization's board or membership. If you want to help an individual, offer to babysit, take them places or go visit them. Give of yourself when you decide to help needy or poor people and you may find that the satisfaction gives you just as much in return.

Tags: poor people, highest level, manner that, take them, that allows, want help

Make An Ex Nonexistent

Make an Ex Nonexistent

Forgetting about an Ex can be emotionally challenging. Sometimes forgetting about an ex boyfriend or girlfriend is the only way to feel complete again.

Instructions

1. Find closure. If possible, figure out why the relationship fell through. This will ease the mind and prevent some obsessive thinking later on. "Where did it go wrong?" thoughts will be bound to creep up on you.

2. Sever your ties. Exchange any possessions that may belong to the other. This gives you no reason to contact them in the future.

3. Don't talk to them. Don't call, email, text, send letters, or contact them in any way.

4. Ignore them. Don't read their letters or texts. Don't answer their calls.

5. Collect anything and everything that reminds you of them and seal it away in a box. Don't let these things be painful reminders of the relationship.

6. Distract yourself. Keep yourself busy by hanging out with friends, doing errands, and doing hobbies.

7. Don't think about them. If you catch yourself getting nostalgic or reflecting on painful feelings, try to change your train of thought.

8. Don't talk about them. Avoid participating in conversations about the person. Ask loved ones to refrain from talking about the person in your presence.

9. Don't say their name. Refer to them as something more general like that "boy" or "girl".

10. Delete their contact information from you cell phone and email.

11. Delete them from your friends list on social networking sites like Myspace.com and Facebook.com. Seeing their status updates won't help you forget about them.

12. Give it time. Time will heal the emotional wounds.

Tags: about them, about person, contact them, Make Nonexistent

Get Recruited By A College Track And Field Team

Did you know that there are over 250 Division one and over 100 Division two colleges that offer scholarships for men and women for track and field? Not all athletic scholarships in track and field cover the whole cost of tuition, but they can put quite a dent in your tuition bill. Follow these steps if you would like to get recruited by a college track and field program.

Instructions

1. Identify some colleges with track teams that you might be interested in attending. The College Sports Scholarships site provides contact information for all track and field coaches at NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA colleges.

2. Write to the coaches on these track and field teams and tell them you are interested in their schools. Find out what camps they recommend for your specialty. For example, if you are a thrower, your choice of camp will be different than if you are a runner.

3. Put together a package that highlights your skills and achievements. This includes medals, certificates and newspaper articles that you have been mentioned in. You can add letters of recommendation from high school coaches and coaches at camps you have attended when the time is right.

4. Look into some of the websites that connect coaches and athletes. Be Recruited is a fee-based site; Athletes Advance is free.

Tags: track field, over Division

Get Free Stuff & Resources For Your Nonprofit Organization

In addition to grants and fundraisers, nonprofits have a few options at their disposal to get in-kind donations for the organization. Tapping local community resources for assistance is a way to make the public aware of your organization's work and to gain its support. Networks of your supporters and volunteers are also vital in gaining access to resources and free items for your nonprofit.

Instructions

1. Send out a request to your organization's volunteers and supporters in your organization's regular newsletter or email update. Even if your volunteers give their time and talents in another capacity, they may be willing to step up and help pull weeds on the organization's property or send out invitations for an upcoming fundraiser.

2. Leverage the personal and professional networks of your volunteers, supporters and friends to get help for your nonprofit. Lawyers or electricians may donate their time, or a board member may be able to make an introduction of a city council member to the organization's executive director.

3. Post requests for specific items your organization needs on Freecycle. Freecycle is a nationwide grassroots movement to keep usable items out of landfills. Send an email out to your local Freecycle group stating your nonprofit's needs, and if someone in the group has a few of whatever you are asking for left over in the garage somewhere, he will let you know. Then, someone from your organization will pick it up from his garage at a time convenient to both parties.

4. Ask for items or services on Craigslist, or get items you need in its free section of the classifieds. If you post an ad (for which there is no cost), let the reader know it is for a nonprofit organization. Develop an internship program. Interns can help your organization out, and you can teach the intern about different aspects of running a nonprofit.

5. Contact your state's nonprofit association for assistance in developing an internship program that is beneficial to both your organization and to the intern. A listing of state nonprofit associations is available on the National Council of Nonprofits website. (see Resources)

Tags: your organization, help your, internship program, items your, state nonprofit, their time

Hook Up Live Jbl Powered Subwoofers

Self powered subwoofers are lighter and more portable than installed systems.

The self powered subwoofer can be a great tool for the small venue owner because of its portability and economical price. They are very popular among deejays who bring their own equipment to gigs. These subs use built in power amps to drive their speakers, eliminating the need for long runs of audio cables to carry the signal from the amplifier to the speakers. Powered subs will also act as a crossover point for your audio signal. This allows you to send only higher frequencies to your top speakers. JBL produces a popular line of powered speakers including self powered subwoofers.

Instructions

1. Plug the female end of your XLR cable into the male XLR output of your audio mixer. The XLR connection has the three pins that form a triangle. The female end has three holes that match the same triangle shape.

2. Plug the male end of your XLR cable into the female XLR connection on the back of your powered subwoofer that is labeled "sub input." The subwoofer will act as a crossover point and only play the low end of the music while it sends the rest of the frequency range up to your top boxes.

3. Adjust the crossover frequency knob located on the back of your powered sub. This allows you to select the point in the frequency range where the sub will begin to send the audio signal to your top speakers. Normal ranges for live audio applications are 60 Hertz to 120 Hertz.

4. Plug the female end of your other XLR cable into the "audio output" connection on the back of your subwoofer.

5. Plug the male end of your cable into the "audio input" connection in your top box. This will allow you to hear the full range of the music instead of just the low end.

Tags: cable into, back your, your cable, your cable into, audio signal, back your powered

Make Monkey Munch Like Jon And Kate Gosselin (A Recipe As Seen On Jon And Kate Plus Eight)

Jon and Kate Gosselin's eight children LOVE Monkey Munch

If you're a fan of TLC's hit reality show, "Jon and Kate Plus 8," you might remember that in a previous season she made a snack recipe for her kids, that she called "Monkey Munch." This sweet treat is a hit with kids and adults alike. You don't have to be a fan of Jon and Kate Plus Eight to enjoy this delicious recipe. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Pour the cereal into a large bowl.

2. Combine chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter into a measuring cup.

3. Microwave the measuring cup full of ingredients in the microwave for 30 seconds.

4. Add vanilla to ingredients in the measuring cup, and stir.

5. Pour melted mixture over the Chex mix.

6. Pour the coated cereal mixture into the large Ziplock baggie.

7. Add powdered sugar into the baggie.

8. Shake until the mixture is evenly coated with the powdered sugar.

9. Spread the mixture onto wax paper and allow to cool.

10. Store in Ziplock bags or covered bowls.

Tags: Kate Plus, Monkey Munch, into large, Kate Gosselin, Kate Plus Eight, Plus Eight

Make A Costume As Rose From The Titanic

Rose -- the main female character in the popular Titanic movie -- is remembered not only for her touching story, but also for her elegant, old-fashioned look. Rose's look makes for a nice costume for dress-up parties of any occasion. After her trademark evening gown and jewelry are located, anybody can look like Rose with a little hair styling and makeup and a few more accessories. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Dye the hair with a reddish-brown semi-permanent hair dye a day before the dress up occasion. Semi-permanent hair dyes wash out after a few days, so it's best for anybody who doesn't want a drastic style change.

2. Sleep with pin curls in the hair the night before the occasion. The pin curls will create the loose, flowing curls as seen in Rose's hair in Titanic. Wear the hair down or in a loose French twist with the costume.

3. Wear a long, dark red gown with a square-cut neck and sleeves that cover only the round part of the shoulders. To get the closest possible match, find a gown with black bead or sequin adornments across the chest and shoulders.

4. Wear red pumps or flats the same color as the dress. Black shoes may also work if red shoes are not available.

5. Wear dangling earrings with a single marble-sized gem that hangs at the bottom. Wear a necklace with a similar appearance. Both of these items may be found inexpensively at jewelry stores in shopping malls.

6. Apply red lipstick, mascara and blush that matches your natural skin tone.

Tags: gown with

Improve Jogging Times

Improve Jogging Times

Jogging provides solid cardiovascular exercise for people of all fitness levels. If you're new to jogging, you can slowly build up your distance over time, thereby improving your endurance level. As you improve, you may wish to start timing your jogs. You can then record your times and work to improve them. Like any training program, it does take dedication to improve your jogging times. While you should take rest days, you need to stick to a training program in order to see significant progress.

Instructions

1. Record information on every jog you complete. Log the distance and the time it took you to finish. Keep this log handy so you can track improvements.

2. Warm up before you begin your jog. Walk briskly to slowly raise the heart rate before launching into your jog. You will achieve better jogging times and reduce the chances of injury if you only exercise warm muscles.

3. Perform interval training once a week. Interval training has been shown to improve endurance performance such as jogging. Jog at a steady pace for two minutes and then increase your speed to a full sprint for one minute. Return to your steady jogging pace for two minutes to recover. You can then lengthen your intervals but allow sufficient time to recover between the intense bursts of speed.

4. Incorporate other leg exercises into your training regime. Squats, climbing stairs and jumping rope are all effective leg exercises. They will improve muscle tone and help to improve jogging times.

5. Wear a heart rate monitor while you jog. This will help you gauge how hard you are actually working throughout your jog. If you notice that your heart rate is lower than it should be, you can bump up your energy level, thereby achieving better times.

6. Complete a longer jog every few weeks. As a result, your shorter jogs will become more manageable and you'll achieve faster times on those runs.

7. Hydrate. Drink sufficient amounts of water before, during and after your jogs. Hydration is key to good performance.

8. Stretch thoroughly after every jog. If you don't stretch, you put your body at risk for injuries and sore muscles. You'll achieve better times if you continually protect your body.

Tags: heart rate, achieve better, better times, Improve Jogging, Improve Jogging Times, into your

Make Pizza

Make a pizza at home for a good meal. This can be done fairly easily. After making pizza several times, perfect the recipe according to personal taste. Get the kids involved for family time. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven. After buying the crust, the cooking temperature is probably listed in the instructions. If not, it is probably safe to turn the oven to around 350 degrees.

2. Prepare the crust. Crust mixes can be purchased that are just mixed with water or oil, then baked. Premade crusts may also be purchased. For extra crispy crust, bake it for a few minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients.

3. Add the pizza sauce. Sauce can be purchased in a can or jar at the grocery store. Or use tomato paste and add a bit of garlic and Italian seasonings according to taste. Add 3/4 cup sauce to the middle of the pizza and spread outward in a spiral motion for even coverage.

4. Add cheese. The amount of cheese can be determined according to personal taste. Use only mozzarella, or add Parmesan or provolone.

5. Add toppings. Pizzas can be topped with anything, so be creative. Favorite toppings include pepperoni and sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions and olives. Some unique toppings are hummus, cucumbers and roma tomatoes.

6. Sprinkle with extras for added flavors. Garlic, salt and pepper are favorites. Another option is to brush with olive oil before baking.

Tags: according personal, according personal taste, personal taste

Fix A Pendulum Clock

A pendulum clock in need of repair does not require a trip to the clockmaker and an expensive repair bill. A clock running too fast or too slow, a clock that stops running or runs intermittently, does not chime or chimes out sequence are all repairs you can make at home. With a gentle hand and a little patience, you can put your pendulum clock back in good working order. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Running Too Fast or Too Slow

1. Ensure clock is on a level surface. Both mantle and wall clocks must rest on a level surface to keep correct time. If necessary, place a shim no larger than 1/4 inch underneath a mantle clock to level it out. Verify the level is correct with a straightedge level. To level a wall-mounted clock, move the bottom of the clock casing to the left or right, no more than 1/16 inch.

2. Adjust the pendulum up or down. A pendulum too high causes the clock to run fast; too low causes the clock to run slow. Locate the adjustable weight, or screw mechanism, near the pendulum arm. Shorten the pendulum by turning the screw mechanism to the right, 1/2 turn. Lengthen the pendulum by turning the screw mechanism to the left, 1/2 turn. Restart the clock and check it against your computer clock or watch. If it is obviously running too fast or slow, repeat the process. Otherwise, wait to two or three days and recheck it.

3. Set the clock in beat. A pendulum clock in correct beat should have a steady, rhythmic tick-tock, tick-tock sound. An out-of-beat clock will not keep correct time and may stop working altogether. To set the clock in beat, reposition the crutch of the pendulum. The pendulum crutch is a small piece of wire that goes through the pendulum arm. The center motion of the crutch must be in the center of the clock. Using a gentle hand, bend the crutch in the middle of its length to the desired position. Swing the pendulum and listen for a steady, tick-tock sound.

Not Running or Runs Intermittently

4. Make sure the clock is on a level surface and fully wound.

5. Check the clock hands and pendulum arm to make sure they are not bent or touching each other. If they are, gently bend them back into the correct position.

6. Adjust or reset the clock beat.

Chimes Not Working or Out of Sequence

7. Make sure chimes are not set to "silent."

8. Adjust the minute and hour hands. Using a pair of pliers, remove the nut holding down the minute hand and rotate it through the chimes until it chimes at the top of the hour. Count the strikes and reinstall the nut. Slip the hour hand around to the hour that just struck.

9. Adjust the clock weights. A tall pendulum clock, such as a grandfather clock, must have the weights working in correct order for chimes to ring. The weight on the right controls chimes, the weight in the center regulates the pendulum and the weight on the left regulates the hour strike.

Tags: pendulum clock, clock beat, clock level, level surface, screw mechanism, causes clock

Know The Signs Your Boyfriend Is Not Over His Ex

You love your boyfriend so much but sometimes you wonder if he is really over his ex. What does he do that make you think that way? How would you know? What are the signs?

Instructions

1. Does he talk about his ex all the time? Does he bring her up in most of your conversation with him? If yes, it means he can't stop thinking about his ex. It's obvious that he still has feelings and cares for

her if he keeps talking about her even if you are not bringing it up.

2. Does he still communicate with his ex girlfriend? How often? Does he tell you that he still talks to her? Does he tell you what they talk about? Does he keep lines of communication with his ex open?

For others, it is better to cut communication with exes especially if it was an ugly breakup. If after the breakup, you two tried to work things out and it was not successful, it is better to be apart and stay away from each other.

Why is it better to close lines of communication with an ex? Not only because an ex is part of your past, it is also better for you and whomever you're with now. It just shows that you respect your current boyfriend/girlfriend. Not talking to an ex does not mean you're not friends with the ex anymore. Just accept the fact that the relationship

already ended, you move on, and leave the past behind. Once you have passed the acceptance stage and moved on, all your bad feelings toward an ex are gone. You are able to forgive an ex and consider an ex a "friend" not an enemy. So, yes you can be friends with an ex but talking or speaking doesn't necessarily be involved.

If your boyfriend doesn't care whether he talks or meets his ex, he's over his ex. If he can live without communicating with an ex, he's over his ex.

3. Are there times he mistakenly calls you her name? If this has happened before, that means he was thinking about his ex or may have been communicating with his ex.

4. Does he still keep stuff that his ex gave him? Can he let go of these things? If your boyfriend cannot let go of the things his ex has given him, this just shows that he cares for his ex or he still has feelings for her. He wants to keep these things because it reminds him of his ex. Hey, that's bad Feng Shui. Don't keep things from past relationships. Let go of these things and be fully committed to your present relationship.

5. Does he listen to songs about breakups or anything that remind him of his ex? If he listens to songs like Who Knew by Pink, Let Me Love You by Mario, What's Left Of Me by Nick Lachey, Lately by Tyrese... then think again.

6. Can your boyfriend go to places (especially places where they used to go) not being afraid or having to worry that both of you might run into his ex? Does your boyfriend care? If he cares or worries about bumping into his ex and seeing him with you, your boyfriend cares about his ex's feelings. He cares that she might get hurt when she sees him with you. Your boyfriend may also be avoiding to run into his ex because he is afraid to see his ex with another man.

Tags: communication with, these things, your boyfriend, communicating with, Does still

Make A Golf Cart Go Faster

Golf carts are becoming commonplace as cheap transportation around large properties or small communities. However, the dilemma of reaching a higher top speed plagues many a lead-footed cart driver. Without embarking on a complete golf cart overhaul, there are a few tricks that can make it go faster.

Instructions

1. Add larger tires. The bigger the tire, the larger the revolution and faster flat ground speed (provided the RPMs remain constant). Expect some loss of low-end torque.

2. Install a higher RPM high-speed electric motor. Take measurements to ensure a new, larger motor fits into the available chassis. Higher RPM motors might require that a higher amperage, high performance controller also be installed.

3. Remove or adjust the governor. Many golf carts have some kind of governor that limits the vehicle's top speed. The most common governors are located in line with the accelerator cable, a clutch activator cable or installed as an RPM or REV limiter.

4. Replace the existing gear sets with a gear set that has a lower ratio. The standard factory gear set ratio on golf carts is 12.5:1 and provides for a speed of roughly 14 mph. An 8:1 gear set ratio increases top speed to roughly 20 mph, but at the loss of low-end start up torque.

Tags: gear ratio, loss low-end, speed roughly

Lose Weight For Soccer

Get in shape to excel on the soccer field.

Soccer players tend to be lean, and if you're going to get involved with the sport, you'll want to make sure you're in good physical condition to compete. Getting yourself into shape will increase your performance and lower your chance of injuring yourself during practice or a game. Playing sports is a great way to stay in shape, especially if you find running and lifting weights to be boring. Either way, it's important to include some sort of exercise into your regular routine, whether you're a hardcore competitor or simply playing on a soccer team for fun.

Instructions

1. Jog for long periods of time. The game of soccer involves a lot of running, so you need to be comfortable exerting this kind of energy before you begin your first game. Simply walking, even fast walking, won't prepare you for the energy you'll be expending on running during a soccer game. Work towards jogging for a while without getting winded and completely out of breath. Alternate jogging with sprints to better prepare yourself for field time.

2. Incorporate exercise into every area of your life that you can. Every time you use your muscles, you're burning calories. Choose the stairs over the elevator. Park your car in a far-off parking spot so that you have a longer walk. Take your bike when going somewhere nearby instead of driving.

3. Practice and participate in soccer games. While you may not meet every single one of your health and fitness goals before you take the field, playing sports is an effective way to not only stay in shape, but also to get in shape first.

4. Eat nutritious foods. While it may be tempting to not eat in order to quickly drop weight, your body actually needs food to use as fuel and to burn off body fat. If you don't get this energy in the form of food, your body will turn your muscle into energy to aid your body. If you don't eat enough, you may think you're losing fat when you're actually losing muscle. Incorporate fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grain carbohydrates into your diet, as well as healthy fats, like olive oil, and all-natural peanut butter. Weed out packaged foods, fast food and sugar-packed items. Also, drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Tags: your body, exercise into, into your, stay shape

Hook Up A Sub Woofer To A Stereo

Despite putting all that time and money into purchasing the perfect speakers paired with the ultimate receiver, your stereo system lacks bass. The more you listen, the more this glaring deficiency drives you nuts. After all that time and money you expect perfection, so you've decided that you need to add a subwoofer. While adding a subwoofer is an obvious move, getting it connected has proven not so obvious. There are a number of ways to connect a subwoofer. Here's a look at two of the best.

Instructions

Dedicated Subwoofer Connections

1. Connect an RCA or subwoofer cable to the "Sub Out," or "LFE Out" (for home theater applications) on your receiver, preamplifier or amplifier. This is a line out connection (non-amplified) so it requires that you use a powered subwoofer with built-in amplification.

2. Connect the cable to the input on the back of your subwoofer.

3. Plug the subwoofer in and turn it on.

4. Turn the subwoofer to "On" using your receiver or preamplifier menu, so that low frequencies will be routed to the sub. Once you've completed, your subwoofer should now receive the low frequencies from your audio.

Speaker Level Connections

5. Connect using speaker wire. If your receiver/preamp/amp lacks an appropriate line-level output for your subwoofer, or you are using a passive sub that requires external amplification, you can connect using the speaker outputs on your receiver or amplifier.

6. Connect speaker wire to both the Left and Right main speaker outputs on your receiver/amp. If the sides of your wire are marked "+" or "-", be sure to hook it appropriately to the corresponding output; this will simply make it easier to connect to the subwoofer.

7. Connect the speaker wire to the subwoofer's left and right inputs, being careful to align the proper sides and polarities.

8. Run the speaker wire from the left speaker output of the sub to the left speaker, while paying attention to polarity. Repeat for the right speaker.

9. Plug in the subwoofer (if it's powered) and turn it on.

10. Turn the subwoofer to "Off" on the receiver/preamplifier menu and set the speakers to "Large."

11. Adjust crossover frequencies on your subwoofer or receiver to desired levels so that subwoofer will pick up lowest frequencies and send all higher frequencies to the speakers. Refer to instruction manual for assistance on your specific subwoofer and/or receiver.

Tags: your receiver, speaker wire, your subwoofer, receiver preamplifier, subwoofer receiver, Connect speaker

Insulate A Room From A Garbage Smell

Garbage smells, though unpleasant, are luckily very easy to deal with in most cases. Only a few basic items are needed to keep rooms smelling fresh and the cost for keeping the garbage smell out of a room is minimal. If possible, one of the best ways to keep a house from smelling like garbage is to not leave bags of garbage sitting around the house. Move garbage bags outside or take them to the dump when they become full, if possible. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Use scented garbage bags in your garbage can to cover up the smell of garbage as much as possible. Sprinkle the bottom of the garbage can each time you change the bag with baking soda to neutralize odors.

2. Wash garbage can often, both inside and out to eliminate garbage smells caused by spilled food decaying on the can's surface. Use warm water and dish detergent to wash can. For extra odor control, add a sprinkle of baking soda to the water when washing it, as well.

3. Purchase garbage cans that have tight-fitting lids to keep garbage smells enclosed within the can. Garbage cans that have foot petals to open them are usually especially good for this.

4. Separate garbage as much as possible. Put food, diapers and anything else particularly smells in a separate bag that is emptied each day and disposed of immediately, or if that's not possible, at least put it in an area that you don't spend as much time in, like a garage or basement.

5. Place air fresheners around rooms that contain garbage cans. There are air fresheners that periodically spray the room with scent on their own, as well as plug in air fresheners and free-standing ones.

Tags: baking soda, cans that, cans that have, garbage bags, garbage cans, garbage much

Keep Oxygen Levels Up In A High Elevation

Altitude sickness can develop without proper acclimation to higher elevation.

If you live near the ocean or in a low altitude, a trip to the mountains may leave you short of breath. At higher elevations, less air pressure can require more effort to keep you at the same level of oxygen you are used to at home. Traveling too quickly, either by car or by plane, from sea level to elevations of 7,000 feet or more will not allow your body the time it needs to naturally acclimate. Rushing may bring about altitude sickness.

Instructions

1. Rest appropriately upon arrival at a higher altitude. Try to do some non-strenuous or seated activity right after you land rather than going straight to bed, because once you fall asleep, your slower breathing may only delay your acclimation. Pay attention to your energy level. Exerting yourself too quickly may make you sick. Slow your pace and take frequent breaks with any physical exertion. Everyone acclimates to higher altitudes differently.

2. Breath deeper and with more frequency. Focus on your breathing if you start feeling breathless. You can feel lightheaded not just from walking or jogging but also from singing or playing a wind instrument. Different parts of your lungs work to bring oxygen to your body at higher altitudes. Breathing deeper than you normally would will help activate those parts of your lungs and produce more red blood cells to carry oxygen through your body.

3. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and eat a high-calorie diet with carbohydrates for energy. Drink water even if you do not feel thirsty. Extra water and food are needed for more methodical breathing. The air at higher altitudes is drier and colder. Both will have an effect on your throat, particularly after you have been breathing more consciously. Avoid liquids such as alcohol or foods that will dehydrate you. Do not take sleeping pills or anything else that will depress your breathing while you are acclimating to the new elevation.

4. Sleep at a lower altitude than the elevation where you physically exert yourself. If you are traveling to the mountains for a skiing vacation or plan to hike or play sports, make sure that where you rest at night is at a lower point on the mountain. Since your breathing will slow once asleep, you do not want to struggle to take in oxygen.

Tags: higher altitudes, your body, your breathing, parts your, parts your lungs, that will, your lungs

Host A Charity Event

Donated flowers make the most beautiful centerpieces

Imagine a world-class juggler trying to keep a slew of balls in the air without dropping one. That's how many event planners describe the job of hosting a charity event. Sponsors are eager to provide a flawless experience for attendees: the right atmosphere, food, beverages, entertainment and the ambiance that makes patrons feel welcome and generous. Pulling this off requires organization, volunteers and staff whose feathers are difficult to ruffle plus the right confluence of theme and atmosphere. If you're ready to put on your hosting hat, follow these tips. Do the job effortlessly and your reward will be kudos plus an invitation to top your efforts next time around.

Instructions

1. Know your donor base. Some constituencies will be eager to leap at the chance to attend a day at the races while others want an opportunity to don formal ware for a glittering evening of wine and waltzing. Query your donors and contributors. Find out what types of charity events they would love to see your group stage. You might be surprised to find that your charity event is best shepherded by those who will attend.

2. Schedule a brainstorming meeting with members of your pre-selected planning committee. Analyze responses from donors and then conjure up theme ideas based on that feedback. Match the event to the season (winter balls, spring garden walks, Fourth of July barbecues and Halloween fun houses) or tie your event to an important anniversary. For example, if your charity works on behalf of kids, International Children's Day offers a great opportunity for planning an around-the-world progressive dinner.

3. Book a venue. Think outside the ballroom. Contact your Chamber of Commerce or tourism office. Ask them to recommend historic landmarks, out-of-the-ordinary reception venues and facilities. Be cautious about selecting an outdoor venue if weather in your area has been known to be iffy at certain times of the year.

4. Figure out how you will underwrite your event. Some organizations automatically put a line item in their annual budgets. If this describes your group, skip this tip. If your organization finds itself in need of money to host this charity event, round up a group of "angels" willing to donate the funds necessary to get the event off the ground.

5. Divide your charity event committee into sub-groups. Assign the jobs of overseeing invitations, flowers, logistics, set-up and clean-up plus other tasks that must be accomplished in advance, during the event and at the fundraiser's conclusion. Unless you're lucky enough to have recruited an army of worker bees, ask committee members to take on more than one role during the planning and staging of the fund raiser.

6. Call group meetings to make key decisions as the event approaches. Group the tasks that must be completed so committee members don't feel overwhelmed by having their jobs or personal lives disrupted more than necessary. For example, schedule a Saturday to knock off several items on the group's to-do list like addressing invitations, visiting the event site for a food tasting and evaluating centerpieces brought to the group by the decorations committee.

7. Publicize your event. By asking every member of your committee, the board and the friends of your charitable organization to participate equally in spreading the word about your upcoming fundraiser, you'll make life easier for members of the publicity committee. Everyone who becomes involved in charity work has their own contacts --- from the media to high rollers who are willing to make a personal or corporate donation.

8. Tightly organize loose ends the day before the event. Bring supplies and equipment you'll need to handle details of the event to a central staging area. Use a checklist to verify items necessary to complete all of the details. Hold a final committee meeting to make certain everyone understands what they are expected to do before, during and after the event closes down. Make sure someone is charged with the responsibility of recognizing the "angels" who came up with the cash to underwrite the event. In addition to announcing their names, give them a small token of appreciation, such as flowers.

9. Expect last-minute glitches, but don't let the unexpected undermine the hard work you and your committee have done to put on a world-class event. Hold a post-event meeting to evaluate what went right, what could be improved and what facets of the event are best not done again. Write everything down so next year's effort is even better than this one.

Tags: charity event, your charity, your event, committee members, event best, more than

Knit A Hat & Bib

Bibs and hats make excellent baby projects.

A hat with a matching bib is makes an excellent gift for new or expecting parents. The items will be used often, and knit up quickly. They can also be embellished in many ways. While there are many patterns and several techniques for knitting hats and bibs, knitting a hat and bib using the same yarn and needles produces a more consistent look. Yarns that are elastic and absorbent are best for this project, as you will need the elasticity for the hat and the absorbency for the bib.

Instructions

Knitting the Bib

1. Cast on 40 stitches. Knit 3 rows. Work the following pattern: Even numbered rows: knit 10, purl 20, knit 10. Odd numbered rows: knit. Continue until the work is 6 inches long.

2. Knit 10 stitches. Bind off the rest of the row. Knit the remaining 10 stitches until the strap is 7 to 8 inches long. For the buttonhole, knit 3, bind off 4, knit 3. On the next row, knit 3, cast on 4, knit 3. Knit 4 rows even. Alternate 4 rows of plain knitting with buttonholes until the strap is 10 inches long. Bind off. Sew the button to the top left corner of the bib. Weave in ends.

3. Measure your bib in the center to determine the number of stitches and rows per inch.

Knitting the Hat

4. Multiply the stitch gauge by the desired head circumference. If knitting for a newborn, 13 inches should be sufficient. The product of the stitch gauge and head circumference will be the number of stitches to cast on.

5. Cast on and knit a knit 2, purl 2 ribbing for 2 inches. Knit in stockinette stitch, alternating rows of knitting and purling, for 10 rows.

6. Begin the decreases for the crown. Purl every wrong side row. On right side rows:

1. Knit 2 together on every 5th stitch

2. Knit 2 together every 4th stitch

3. Knit 2 together every 3rd stitch

4. Knit 2 together every other stitch

5. Knit 2 together every stitch.

7. Cut the yarn, leaving an 18-inch tail. Sew up the hat using this tail. Weave in ends.

Tags: Knit together, Knit together every, together every, every stitch, stitch Knit, stitch Knit together

Get Ready For A 5k Race

Running a 5K race takes preparation.

You can get ready for a 5K race in eight weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic. Depending on your fitness level you might only need four weeks, adds long-distance runner Natalie Jewett. Walking the race, or alternating walking and running are also options if you prefer a lower impact on your joints. Keep your energy levels high with the appropriate nutrition and hydration regardless of your speed.

Instructions

1. Build up your endurance gradually by alternating walking and running for 30 minutes of uninterrupted activity. For example, on walk/run days run for 15 seconds, then walk for 45 seconds, repeating that cycle for 30 minutes. The Mayo Clinic recommends following a schedule that varies your daily activity with walk/run days, walk days, run days and one or two days of rest. Learn to maintain a steady pace by using a treadmill in the first few weeks if possible, says 5K-runner Scott Reynolds.

2. Run or walk at least 3.5 miles on one day each week. Since 5 kilometers equal 3.1 miles you need to run more than the actual race distance to build your slow twitch muscles and endurance, advises Jewett.

3. Include speed workouts one day a week. By sprinting short distances in intervals you develop your fast twitch muscles, explains Jewett. Intervals could include running very hard for a short distance or time (1/4 mile for example), resting for 1 to 2 minutes then repeating. Practicing a variety of running speeds, building different types of muscle tissue, is essential for long-distance running.

4. Choose a day of rest each week that falls on the weekday before your actual race day. For example, if your race day is on a Saturday, pick Fridays as your weekly rest day.

5. Optimize your performance without putting on the pounds by consuming 50 percent of your daily calorie intake in carbohydrates before or after your run, recommends nutrition expert Madelyn H. Fernstrom. Divide the other half of your daily calories evenly between protein and fat.

6. Determine your hourly fluid loss by weighing yourself nude before and after you run at race pace for 1 hour, recommends running expert Amby Burfoot. Subtract your post-run weight from your pre-race weight, then add the amount of liquid you consumed during your run.

7. Stay hydrated during your runs by consuming enough liquids to replace your hourly fluid loss. Divide your hourly fluid loss by four to determine how many ounces to drink every 15 minutes for runs longer than an hour. Increase your fluid intake when the temperature is higher than on the day you determined your hourly fluid loss.

Tags: fluid loss, hourly fluid, hourly fluid loss, your hourly, your hourly fluid, walk days, your daily

Get An Old Computer To Run Faster

The older a computer is, the slower it's likely to run. The reason for this is twofold: Computers become bogged down with unnecessary data over time, and computer hardware becomes outdated and potentially runs less efficiently. There are several steps you can take to speed up an old computer without purchasing any new hardware.

Instructions

1. Run a full anti-virus scan with an up-to-date anti-virus program. Sometimes older computers are neglected in terms of staying up to date with anti-virus software and can become bogged down by malicious programs. Running a virus scan with one or several different updated anti-virus programs can eliminate issues caused by viruses.

2. Run disk cleanup. Disk cleanup is an accessory that deletes unnecessary files that pile up over time, such as temporary Internet files and cookies. To run the disk cleanup, click "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools" then "Disk Cleanup."

3. Download and run a registry cleaner program. When programs are installed on a computer, entries are made on the computer's registry that may not be deleted even if the program is uninstalled. These remnants can slow down the computer as they build up over years. CCleaner is a freeware program with a reliable registry cleaner tool. Always back up the registry before making any changes as altering the registry may cause stability issues.

4. Defragment your hard drive. Defragmentation is a maintenance task that should be carried out every couple of months. It organizes the hard drive to optimize data access speed. To defragment, go to "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools" and select "Disk Defragmenter." Select your boot drive from the list of drives to defragment. Defragmentation can take a long time, especially on an old computer that has never been defragmented, so you may want to run the process overnight.

Tags: Accessories System, Accessories System Tools, become bogged, become bogged down, bogged down, hard drive

Increase Your Miles Per Gallon

With oil and fuel prices on the rise, you might be looking for ways to increase your mileage. With a few techniques, you can easily save on gas and increase your car's longevity in the process.

Instructions

1. Clean out your trunk. Carrying extra weight in your car can decrease your fuel efficiency, especially in smaller cars.

2. Use the freeway. Cars get the best mileage between 30 and 60 miles per hour. Experiment with using mostly freeway driving to get to and from local destinations.

3. Avoid road rage. Accelerating quickly, emergency stopping, and speeding can decrease your gas mileage by 33 percent. Drive calmly and try to maintain your speed using cruise control.

4. Maintain your car. Even when your car is in good working condition replacing parts such as your air filter can save you money at the pump.

5. Make sure that you are using the grade of oil designed for your car. You can find this information in the owners manual or check the manufacturer's website. Ask your mechanic to check your oil delivery system for leaks.

6. Check your tire pressure at the gas station. Keeping your tires inflated to the recommended pressure can contribute to a 3 percent savings at the pump.

7. Consider a more fuel efficient car if you are in the market to buy. Combine the steps above with a car that has a higher mile-per-gallon rating and you can save hundreds of dollars a year.

Tags: decrease your, increase your, your mileage

Make Gag Trophies

Making a gag trophy doesn't have to be difficult and requires only imagination and a willingness to search around a little for the right components. A gag trophy can be as silly as you want, as long as you make sure it correctly fits the "award" you are giving. Keep your eyes open at discount and second-hand stores for supplies, and don't be afraid to get creative.

Instructions

Making Gag Trophies

1. Determine what the theme of your gag trophy will be and collect items to be attached to the trophy accordingly. For instance, if you are going to give an award for "The Most Punctual" you can use a small clock or watch. An award for "The Heaviest Sleeper" might include a small teddy bear.

2. Search your local thrift stores for old trophies. The easiest ones to work with are the ones with a wood or stone block and a figure that is attached with a screw that can be detached underneath, although any other kind of trophy can be used as well.

3. Carefully unscrew or break off whatever figure is on top of the trophy. In its place, glue the gag trophy item. If you wish to leave the original figure on top, use your imagination to dress it up to fit the award by painting a particular outfit on it, gluing a sign to it or other small accessories.

4. Use tinfoil or heavy card stock to cover the nameplate or engraving and glue securely. Write the name of the new award and recipient with heavy pen or marker (or you can have the same information typed up on the card stock before gluing it.

5. Paint Mod-Podge or a similar product over the top of the tinfoil or paper to seal the edges. Allow to dry thoroughly and add a second coat.

Tags: card stock