How to Cut Grass

A well-kept lawn gives your home curb appeal. There is more to lawn care than starting up the lawn mower and pushing it in rows across the grass. Learn to cut your grass properly to promote and sustain the life of your lawn.

Instructions

Mowing Basics

1

Keep your lawn mower's blades sharp to produce a clean cut on the grass blade. Determine the type of grass or grasses you have and set your lawn mower's blade height accordingly (see Resources).

2

Remove about one-third of the top of the grass blade when you mow your lawn. Cutting the lawn too short reduces the grasses ability to make the food it needs for health and growth.

3

Cut the grass when it's dry, and make more than one pass over the lawn if it is necessary to remove more than one-third of the blade. You can damage or pull the blade of grass if you cut too much at one time.

4

Begin cutting in rows along the sides of the lawn and continue the pattern with straight rows. Go around your lawn's circular areas such as flowerbeds, and cut one or two rows in circles.

5

Blow the grass clippings into the area you already mowed, and leave them on the lawn to provide nitrogen to the soil. The clippings act as a natural fertilizer, help retain water and stimulate growth.

6

Alternate the mowing direction and pattern from one week to the next. Mow your lawn about once a week to encourage health and growth.

New Grass

7

Wait three or four weeks after germination for the new root system to establish before you mow.

8

Take caution when you mow the delicate new grass. Make sure the grass is not wet and don't walk on it any more than necessary.

9

Delay mowing new grass until it is about an inch longer than the height you would normally cut this type of grass. Only remove -inch the first two or three times.

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A well-kept lawn gives your home curb appeal. There is more to lawn care than starting up the lawn mower and pushing it in rows across the grass. Learn to cut your grass properly to promote and sustain the life of your lawn.

Instructions

Mowing Basics

1

Keep your lawn mower's blades sharp to produce a clean cut on the grass blade. Determine the type of grass or grasses you have and set your lawn mower's blade height accordingly (see Resources).

2

Remove about one-third of the top of the grass blade when you mow your lawn.

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. Cutting the lawn too short reduces the grasses ability to make the food it needs for health and growth.
3

Cut the grass when it's dry, and make more than one pass over the lawn if it is necessary to remove more than one-third of the blade. You can damage or pull the blade of grass if you cut too much at one time.

4

Begin cutting in rows along the sides of the lawn and continue the pattern with straight rows. Go around your lawn's circular areas such as flowerbeds, and cut one or two rows in circles.

5

Blow the grass clippings into the area you already mowed, and leave them on the lawn to provide nitrogen to the soil. The clippings act as a natural fertilizer, help retain water and stimulate growth.

6

Alternate the mowing direction and pattern from one week to the next. Mow your lawn about once a week to encourage health and growth.

New Grass

7

Wait three or four weeks after germination for the new root system to establish before you mow.

8

Take caution when you mow the delicate new grass. Make sure the grass is not wet and don't walk on it any more than necessary.

9

Delay mowing new grass until it is about an inch longer than the height you would normally cut this type of grass. Only remove -inch the first two or three times.

How to Increase Folate Intake

Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that should be part of any well-rounded diet. Eating foods rich in folate helps lower your risk of certain types of cancer, and lowers the risk of heart disease. Your body also needs folate to make and maintain new cells.

Instructions

1

Drink orange juice or grapefruit juice to increase your folate intake. Add a glass to your breakfast in the morning to make sure you get the folate you need everyday.

2

Eat fruits such as strawberries, oranges and avocados.

3

Consume dark leafy vegetables such as spinach, turnip greens, collard greens and mustard greens. Other vegetables that are good sources of folate include asparagus, okra, broccoli and brussel sprouts.

4

Include beans in some meals to increase your intake. Eat kidney beans, black, pinto or navy beans, all of which are a great source of foliate.

5

Take a supplement to get the proper amount of folic acid. The recommended dose is 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. You can also eat a cereal fortified and rich in folic acid or enriched bead.

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Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that should be part of any well-rounded diet. Eating foods rich in folate helps lower your risk of certain types of cancer, and lowers the risk of heart disease. Your body also needs folate to make and maintain new cells.

Instructions

1

Drink orange juice or grapefruit juice to increase your folate intake. Add a glass to your breakfast in the morning to make sure you get the folate you need everyday.

2

Eat fruits such as strawberries, oranges and avocados.

3

Consume dark leafy vegetables such as spinach, turnip greens, collard greens and mustard greens. Other vegetables that are good sources of folate include asparagus, okra, broccoli and brussel sprouts.

4

Include beans in some meals to increase your intake. Eat kidney beans, black, pinto or navy beans, all of which are a great source of foliate.

5

Take a supplement to get the proper amount of folic acid. The recommended dose is 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. You can also eat a cereal fortified and rich in folic acid or enriched bead.

How to Know if Someone is Talking Behind One's Back

Everyone talks. Sometime it is good, other times it is bad. However, it is common for people who do not like you or who are jealous of you to talk behind your back. These people will talk to other people about you in good ways and in bad ways. Here are some steps to know if someone is talking to you behind one's back.

Instructions

1

Determine if the information is factual. Many times people will talk about someone else based on a lot of hearsay. They do not know for sure if the information they have is true or not, so they will talk about the person behind their back to other people to see if they can verify the information they have as being true or not.

2

Ask the person telling you the information about where they heard or learned about it. You might also want to ask them if they have actually talked to or confronted the person they are talking about.

3

Listen for exaggeration. When someone is talking behind one's back, they will use a lot of exaggeration. People who gossip about others will always try to make the story appear bigger or worse than it actually is. Someone who is exaggerating is more than likely talking about someone behind their back.

---

Everyone talks.

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. Sometime it is good, other times it is bad. However, it is common for people who do not like you or who are jealous of you to talk behind your back. These people will talk to other people about you in good ways and in bad ways. Here are some steps to know if someone is talking to you behind one's back.

Instructions

1

Determine if the information is factual. Many times people will talk about someone else based on a lot of hearsay. They do not know for sure if the information they have is true or not, so they will talk about the person behind their back to other people to see if they can verify the information they have as being true or not.

2

Ask the person telling you the information about where they heard or learned about it. You might also want to ask them if they have actually talked to or confronted the person they are talking about.

3

Listen for exaggeration. When someone is talking behind one's back, they will use a lot of exaggeration. People who gossip about others will always try to make the story appear bigger or worse than it actually is. Someone who is exaggerating is more than likely talking about someone behind their back.

How to Decorate a Wagon for a Parade

A wagon parade is a fun way to celebrate an event or holiday or enjoy the warm weather. When you decorate a wagon for a parade, you can make a creative, one-of-a-kind float. Use it to transport children or decorate the inside, as well.

Instructions

1

Find out if there are any decorating regulations imposed by parade officials. See if there is a theme for the parade.

2

Get inspired by your hobbies, favorite sports team, a season or holiday or your favorite color. Choose a theme. Select crepe paper, flowers, streamers and flags in theme related colors.

3

Purchase floats from a decorating store. They are sized to fit over a standard wagon.

4

Attach flags and streamers to the rim of the wagon. Drape the sides with garlands of crepe paper, balloons, tissue paper roses or artificial flowers. Cut pictures from your favorite books or magazines. Tape them to the sides of the wagon.

5

Make signs for the sides of the wagon with inspirational quotes or holiday messages. Use markers or print them from your computer. Trendy bumper stickers are a good idea, too. Use masking tape to so that the signs can be removed easily.

6

Add decorations to make the wagon look like a vehicle. Use a steering wheel and wheels for a car, wings for an airplane or create a cover and make a covered wagon. Dress your children like a race car driver, pilot or pioneer and have them ride in the wagon.

7

Fill the wagon with stuffed animals or pots of flowers. Dress the stuffed animals in appropriate clothing, like bathing suits for a beach theme, red-white-and-blue clothing for a patriotic theme or scary costumes for a Halloween theme.

---

A wagon parade is a fun way to celebrate an event or holiday or enjoy the warm weather. When you decorate a wagon for a parade, you can make a creative, one-of-a-kind float. Use it to transport children or decorate the inside, as well.

Instructions

1

Find out if there are any decorating regulations imposed by parade officials. See if there is a theme for the parade.

2

Get inspired by your hobbies, favorite sports team, a season or holiday or your favorite color. Choose a theme. Select crepe paper, flowers, streamers and flags in theme related colors.

3

Purchase floats from a decorating store. They are sized to fit over a standard wagon.

4

Attach flags and streamers to the rim of the wagon.

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. Drape the sides with garlands of crepe paper, balloons, tissue paper roses or artificial flowers. Cut pictures from your favorite books or magazines. Tape them to the sides of the wagon.
5

Make signs for the sides of the wagon with inspirational quotes or holiday messages. Use markers or print them from your computer. Trendy bumper stickers are a good idea, too. Use masking tape to so that the signs can be removed easily.

6

Add decorations to make the wagon look like a vehicle. Use a steering wheel and wheels for a car, wings for an airplane or create a cover and make a covered wagon. Dress your children like a race car driver, pilot or pioneer and have them ride in the wagon.

7

Fill the wagon with stuffed animals or pots of flowers. Dress the stuffed animals in appropriate clothing, like bathing suits for a beach theme, red-white-and-blue clothing for a patriotic theme or scary costumes for a Halloween theme.

How to Make a Costume Design Portfolio

Putting together a good portfolio is an essential part of getting costume design jobs. The portfolio will be looked at by potential employers as a representation of your work. For a designer, the portfolio is just as important as a resume and the interview itself.

Instructions

1

Choose renderings for your portfolio. The renderings should not only be some of your best, but should also represent your most creative designs. The best ones are large and colored.

2

Have photo representations of your designs. The photos should be next to accompanying renderings so that potential employers can see how your designs translate into actuality. Make sure the photos show the entire costume, are large enough to show detail and are in full color.

3

Include fabric swatches. This will show how well the different fabrics are represented in the renderings. The swatches will demonstrate how texture, dimension and feeling are incorporated in your design.

4

Label everything. Each page of the portfolio should have the name of the show that was designed, your name as a design, and the name of the character or person the costume is for. The label should also indicate whether the costume was for a play, television show, movie or anything else.

5

Choose costume samples to represent in your portfolio carefully. The portfolio needs to represent your best work. It also needs to represent the variety of work in which you are successful. In your choices, show variety of styles and kinds of work.

6

Organize the information in the portfolio wisely. Multiple designs from one show should appear together. Keep one or two designs to one page. The portfolio should tell a type of story. By flipping through the pages, there should be a natural progression from design to design.

7

Consider having multiple portfolios if the extent of your work is expansive. For example, create a portfolio for costume crafts and hats, one for fabric painting and dying, one for costume construction, and one for just straight design, They could also be separate in terms of a portfolio for theater productions, one for television, one for dance costumes and one for Halloween costumes.

---

Putting together a good portfolio is an essential part of getting costume design jobs. The portfolio will be looked at by potential employers as a representation of your work. For a designer, the portfolio is just as important as a resume and the interview itself.

Instructions

1

Choose renderings for your portfolio. The renderings should not only be some of your best, but should also represent your most creative designs. The best ones are large and colored.

2

Have photo representations of your designs. The photos should be next to accompanying renderings so that potential employers can see how your designs translate into actuality. Make sure the photos show the entire costume, are large enough to show detail and are in full color.

3

Include fabric swatches. This will show how well the different fabrics are represented in the renderings. The swatches will demonstrate how texture, dimension and feeling are incorporated in your design.

4

Label everything. Each page of the portfolio should have the name of the show that was designed, your name as a design, and the name of the character or person the costume is for. The label should also indicate whether the costume was for a play, television show, movie or anything else.

5

Choose costume samples to represent in your portfolio carefully. The portfolio needs to represent your best work. It also needs to represent the variety of work in which you are successful. In your choices, show variety of styles and kinds of work.

6

Organize the information in the portfolio wisely. Multiple designs from one show should appear together. Keep one or two designs to one page. The portfolio should tell a type of story. By flipping through the pages, there should be a natural progression from design to design.

7

Consider having multiple portfolios if the extent of your work is expansive. For example, create a portfolio for costume crafts and hats, one for fabric painting and dying, one for costume construction, and one for just straight design, They could also be separate in terms of a portfolio for theater productions, one for television, one for dance costumes and one for Halloween costumes.

How to Report a Hate Crime

Hate crime is a violent form of bigotry directed at members of minority groups. It is important that as American citizens, we all do our part in responding to hate crimes. Hate crimes do tremendous damage and cause injury not only to the victim, but to entire families and communities, leaving them angry, intimidated, fearful and suspicious. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

1

Determine how to identify hate crimes, which can include not only murder or assault, but also vandalism, property damage, harassment, intimidation, name calling and threats. Hate crimes are crimes directed at people because of their age, color, race, religion, color, disability or sexual orientation.

2

Call the police immediately, and make sure that the officer notes the crime as a hate crime. Provide all relevant information to the responding police officer if you witnessed the crime. Try to remember details such as height, weight, build, race and age of the perpetrators involved. If you are the victim, save any evidence such as clothing, notes, or photographs and write down any relevant details of the hate crime as soon as possible.

3

Get medical attention for the victim(s) as soon as possible, if necessary. Make sure that the police are notified and that all relevant injuries are documented.

4

Fill out a "Hate Crime Reporting Form" online at the YouthWEB BiasHELP site, which is provide below. BiasHELP tracks hate crimes and related incidents occurring throughout the United States. You can remain anonymous if you prefer. You can also call BiasHELP at (877) END-BIAS.

5

Report a hate crime against gay, bisexual, lesbian, or transgendered individuals at Lambda's online reporting site, which is provided below.

---

Hate crime is a violent form of bigotry directed at members of minority groups. It is important that as American citizens, we all do our part in responding to hate crimes. Hate crimes do tremendous damage and cause injury not only to the victim, but to entire families and communities, leaving them angry, intimidated, fearful and suspicious. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

1

Determine how to identify hate crimes, which can include not only murder or assault, but also vandalism, property damage, harassment, intimidation, name calling and threats. Hate crimes are crimes directed at people because of their age, color, race, religion, color, disability or sexual orientation.

2

Call the police immediately, and make sure that the officer notes the crime as a hate crime. Provide all relevant information to the responding police officer if you witnessed the crime.

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. Try to remember details such as height, weight, build, race and age of the perpetrators involved. If you are the victim, save any evidence such as clothing, notes, or photographs and write down any relevant details of the hate crime as soon as possible.
3

Get medical attention for the victim(s) as soon as possible, if necessary. Make sure that the police are notified and that all relevant injuries are documented.

4

Fill out a "Hate Crime Reporting Form" online at the YouthWEB BiasHELP site, which is provide below. BiasHELP tracks hate crimes and related incidents occurring throughout the United States. You can remain anonymous if you prefer. You can also call BiasHELP at (877) END-BIAS.

5

Report a hate crime against gay, bisexual, lesbian, or transgendered individuals at Lambda's online reporting site, which is provided below.

How to Reopen an Estate

Opening a deceased relative's closed estate is challenging because you have to give the court a valid reason to reopen it. Give your local courthouse documented proof of your recently discovered reason. Let the court know everything you uncovered and allow it some time for an objective decision. And go through proper legal channels by fully investigating the new information before deciding to open a closed estate.

Instructions

1

Hire a probate attorney to help you understand what you're required to do to reopen your deceased relative's estate. Give the attorney every record you have on the estate, such as financial and legal records. Ask questions about what you need to do before taking the first legal step.

2

Fill out a petition to reopen the estate for the deceased's estate. Also fill out separate forms declaring completion of probate and a notice of refiling. Document approval from all family members on a "Receipt & Waiver by Heir or Beneficiary" form before you proceed further.

3

Gather information on the estate's newfound assets and get an appraisal to find out how much they're worth. Choose an investigator to research the deceased's financial history and the new information. Give your supplemental inventory form to the estate representative within 91 days of filing your petition.

4

Get a certified copy of the deceased's death certificate in case the judge wants to see a copy. You don't need to file the death certificate because the death is already documented, but the judge needs to see the certificate personally.

5

Update the will to include the new information after the judge makes a ruling. Divide the assets according to the most current will's provisions for heirs and beneficiaries. Let your attorney file any necessary documentation to distribute the assets.

---

Opening a deceased relative's closed estate is challenging because you have to give the court a valid reason to reopen it. Give your local courthouse documented proof of your recently discovered reason. Let the court know everything you uncovered and allow it some time for an objective decision. And go through proper legal channels by fully investigating the new information before deciding to open a closed estate.

Instructions

1

Hire a probate attorney to help you understand what you're required to do to reopen your deceased relative's estate. Give the attorney every record you have on the estate, such as financial and legal records. Ask questions about what you need to do before taking the first legal step.

2

Fill out a petition to reopen the estate for the deceased's estate. Also fill out separate forms declaring completion of probate and a notice of refiling. Document approval from all family members on a "Receipt & Waiver by Heir or Beneficiary" form before you proceed further.

3

Gather information on the estate's newfound assets and get an appraisal to find out how much they're worth. Choose an investigator to research the deceased's financial history and the new information. Give your supplemental inventory form to the estate representative within 91 days of filing your petition.

4

Get a certified copy of the deceased's death certificate in case the judge wants to see a copy. You don't need to file the death certificate because the death is already documented, but the judge needs to see the certificate personally.

5

Update the will to include the new information after the judge makes a ruling. Divide the assets according to the most current will's provisions for heirs and beneficiaries. Let your attorney file any necessary documentation to distribute the assets.

How to Get Vaccinated Against Meningitis

A meningitis vaccine should be received at age eleven and again when a young adult enters college. Although the meningitis disease can make a person very sick and is often fatal, the vaccine is easy to get.

Instructions

1

Attend all of your yearly physicals. Your family doctor maintains a schedule of all the vaccines that you should receive, along with the tests that are required at every age. At the appropriate age, he will administer the meningitis vaccines and boosters.

2

Make an appointment with your local health department. If you don't have a family doctor, the health department is an inexpensive place to receive all of the vaccines you will need over a lifetime, including the meningitis vaccine. They will send reminders when the next booster is needed, and the services are often free to low-income individuals.

3

Stop by the clinic. For college students, the most convenient place to receive health services is the campus clinic. Because many universities are committed to preventing meningitis outbreaks, there may be times reserved specifically for vaccination. If there isn't, call for an appointment or drop in. They will be happy to assist you, but often there is an inexpensive fee required.

---

A meningitis vaccine should be received at age eleven and again when a young adult enters college. Although the meningitis disease can make a person very sick and is often fatal, the vaccine is easy to get.

Instructions

1

Attend all of your yearly physicals. Your family doctor maintains a schedule of all the vaccines that you should receive, along with the tests that are required at every age. At the appropriate age, he will administer the meningitis vaccines and boosters.

2

Make an appointment with your local health department. If you don't have a family doctor, the health department is an inexpensive place to receive all of the vaccines you will need over a lifetime, including the meningitis vaccine. They will send reminders when the next booster is needed, and the services are often free to low-income individuals.

3

Stop by the clinic. For college students, the most convenient place to receive health services is the campus clinic. Because many universities are committed to preventing meningitis outbreaks, there may be times reserved specifically for vaccination. If there isn't, call for an appointment or drop in.

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. They will be happy to assist you, but often there is an inexpensive fee required.

How to Make a Small Keepsake Box With Drawers

A keepsake box can be a treasure that everyone loves more as time goes on. Adding drawers to your keepsake box gives you the opportunity to arrange the keepsakes any way that you want them. This extra detail makes the box really stand out.

Instructions

1

Design your box. Determine the number of drawers you want and the size that you want them to be. Decide if you want to stack the drawers or if you want to have two columns of drawers.

2

Cut the top and bottom of the box as well as the sides and back. If you are making two or more columns of drawers, cut a middle piece to go between the columns and cross sections to support the drawers.

3

Make the middle section of the box by joining the cross sections to the middle piece with butt joints. These need to line up perfectly to make your box look right.

4

Nail the sides of the box to the top and bottom pieces. Slip the middle frame into the the box and nail into place. Nail the back onto the box. Fill any holes with putty.

5

Cut wood for the drawers. Make the drawers about a 1/4 inch smaller to allow them to slide in or out.

6

Assemble the drawers by nailing the sides, back, front and bottom together.

7

Sand and stain the entire project. Attach a drawer handle to each drawer. Put the drawers into the box.

---

A keepsake box can be a treasure that everyone loves more as time goes on. Adding drawers to your keepsake box gives you the opportunity to arrange the keepsakes any way that you want them. This extra detail makes the box really stand out.

Instructions

1

Design your box. Determine the number of drawers you want and the size that you want them to be. Decide if you want to stack the drawers or if you want to have two columns of drawers.

2

Cut the top and bottom of the box as well as the sides and back. If you are making two or more columns of drawers, cut a middle piece to go between the columns and cross sections to support the drawers.

3

Make the middle section of the box by joining the cross sections to the middle piece with butt joints. These need to line up perfectly to make your box look right.

4

Nail the sides of the box to the top and bottom pieces. Slip the middle frame into the the box and nail into place. Nail the back onto the box. Fill any holes with putty.

5

Cut wood for the drawers. Make the drawers about a 1/4 inch smaller to allow them to slide in or out.

6

Assemble the drawers by nailing the sides, back, front and bottom together.

7

Sand and stain the entire project. Attach a drawer handle to each drawer. Put the drawers into the box.

How to Apply Artificial Frost to Windows

Adding artificial frost to the windows of your home at Christmas is an easy way to get the whole family into the spirit of the holiday. These techniques for frosting your windows work equally well to provide privacy on bathroom windows or garage doors instead of replacing the panes with expensive frosted glass.

Instructions

1

Set out a can or bottle of beer until it has reached room temperature. Dark beers don't work well for this application and the cheaper the beer the better. Leftover beer, if there is such a thing, is fine.

2

Pour the beer into a clean bucket or container that is large enough to allow a sponge or brush to reach the contents easily. A wider opening makes it easier to keep drips and spills to a minimum.

3

Stir in Epsom salt. Continue to stir until all of the salt is dissolved.

4

Add food coloring to add a special holiday twist to this old favorite. You can also make different colored batches to create unique designs.

5

Cut out or purchase cardboard templates to create snowflakes, snowmen and other holiday figures. Let the children do their own windows if you would like to have more than the classic frosted windows look this Christmas.

6

Dip the sponge or brush into the mixture and dab or swipe the mixture across the areas of the glass you want to frost. Long sweeping strokes dry to look like windblown frost while dabbing recreates the classic frosted Christmas windows.

7

Consider using canned frost if you want to speed up the process. Apply canned frost by simply spraying the areas of the window where you want the frost to appear.

---

Adding artificial frost to the windows of your home at Christmas is an easy way to get the whole family into the spirit of the holiday. These techniques for frosting your windows work equally well to provide privacy on bathroom windows or garage doors instead of replacing the panes with expensive frosted glass.

Instructions

1

Set out a can or bottle of beer until it has reached room temperature. Dark beers don't work well for this application and the cheaper the beer the better. Leftover beer, if there is such a thing, is fine.

2

Pour the beer into a clean bucket or container that is large enough to allow a sponge or brush to reach the contents easily. A wider opening makes it easier to keep drips and spills to a minimum.

3

Stir in Epsom salt. Continue to stir until all of the salt is dissolved.

4

Add food coloring to add a special holiday twist to this old favorite. You can also make different colored batches to create unique designs.

5

Cut out or purchase cardboard templates to create snowflakes, snowmen and other holiday figures. Let the children do their own windows if you would like to have more than the classic frosted windows look this Christmas.

6

Dip the sponge or brush into the mixture and dab or swipe the mixture across the areas of the glass you want to frost. Long sweeping strokes dry to look like windblown frost while dabbing recreates the classic frosted Christmas windows.

7

Consider using canned frost if you want to speed up the process. Apply canned frost by simply spraying the areas of the window where you want the frost to appear.