Before there were CDs or MP3s, there were cassette tapes. These tapes held entire albums on a magnetized tape. But, as with all technology, they became obsolete, and many music fans of the era still have them lying around. Because of the different kinds of plastic inside the tapes, they are not usually recycled, but disposing of them doesn’t have to be difficult. You can keep your cassettes from falling into a landfill.
Look for a specialty recycling agency in your area. Some will be willing to go through the trouble of disassembling the tapes to salvage the recyclable parts.
Turn your cassette tapes into crafts. Coin wallets and toys are just two of the many things you can turn your cassette tapes into. See the Resources below for more.
Donate them to Goodwill. Often, Goodwill will put cassette tapes in good condition out for sale.
Check out old record stores. Some, though not many, may be in the market for cassette tapes and will buy them from you.
Post an ad on Craigslist or Freecycle. As the old adage says, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure—which may be the case for your tapes.
Some gardeners use the magnetic tape as twine to hold flowers together. Consider unraveling your tapes and using the magnetic tape to secure suitable objects.
Towel animals and towel origami are are popular at vacation destinations where people return to the same room multiple times like beach resorts or cruises. Some major global hot spots are Mexico, Spain and Egypt. It’s a nice touch for the guests, and adds a little fun and anticipation to returning to a hotel room.
Try making a towel origami design or two and leave them for someone to find. Towel animals usually get at least a smile, especially from kids. If you work in a hotel, try some towel origami out on the guests and see if tips increase. On reviews of resort hotels by guests there’s often mention of leaving larger tips in hopes of more elaborate towel origami.
Here is an example of towel origami for an elephant.
Things You’ll Need:
One bath towel One hand towel Two coins or paper scraps.
Fold the ends of your bath towel in to the center line. With a very large towel, you may need to overlap the ends of the towel.
Roll in the sides of the towel to the middle to form the elephant’s leg’s.
Arch the double rolled towel to form the body and legs of the elephant. This works best with fluffy towels. The towel used in the example could be a little fluffier. If you’re towels are thin it helps to spread out the legs a bit at the bottom for stability.
Now it’s time to make the towel elephant’s head. To save yourself a little time fold the corners of your hand towel over. The two folds should be from the middle of one long edge to the middle of both short edges of the hand towel.
Roll the folded edges of the towel to the middle. This is a conical roll. That means you should be rolling more towel at the top than at the bottom in the picture.
Flip the hand towel over.
Fold the piece of towel that connects the two rolls down towards the point. This will form the elephant’s face. The part pointing down forms the trunk, and the floppy bits to the side are the elephant’s ears.
Balance the towel elephant’s head on the towel body.
Reducing Christmas anxiety and stress can be as simple as taking a walk and sipping hot chocolate, or as complicated as creating a schedule for your family, to make your holidays happy.
1. Get specific and practical about Christmas anxieties. Figure out exactly what you’re stressed about at Christmas, and deal with it. For example, if you’re worried about money, then do a gift exchange and draw names in your family. Or, research inexpensive, easy homemade gifts (eg, jars of dry cookie mix or a card detailing exactly what you and others love and appreciate about someone). Consider Christmas gift shopping online, but do it early! If you’re worried about your diet and exercise levels, schedule specific times to exercise – and stick with your plan. Deal with your stress in practical ways, and remember that holiday anxiety increases when you feel like you have no control.
2. Ask for help to reduce holiday anxiety. If you’re cooking Christmas dinner for the family and are filled with holiday anxiety, ask for help from your friends and family. If you don’t know what gifts to give to family and friends, ask for suggestions. If you’re worried that your uncle will get drunk and mean, contact a counselor or family member for practical ways to prevent or alleviate the situation. Ending holiday anxiety involves reaching out to others, especially over the Christmas season. Holiday stress and Christmas anxiety will be easier to overcome when you don’t feel like you’re in it alone.
3. Accept imperfections to overcome stress. The family will fight, the gifts will disappoint, the dog will knock down the tree, and the turkey will be dry. It’s inevitable that some troubles will arise during the holiday season; going with the flow and accepting the flaws as part of life is key to overcoming Christmas stress. Holiday season anxiety – and many types of stress – comes from unrealistic expectations. When you accept the imperfections, you’ll reduce holiday anxiety because you’ll have realistic goals and expectations.
4. Treat yourself well over the holiday season. Pamper yourself with a massage, pedicure, manicure or day spa (but book it early!). Work up a sweat by skating, snowshoeing or exercising at the gym – physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce holiday season anxiety. Express your feelings to a friend, in your journal, or with music. Get enough sleep. Go to a movie in the middle of the day. Indulge in some chocolate or holiday baking, but don’t overindulge.
While there is no perfect rule for a date to be successful, certain measures always help to make it the best time spent together. Given here are few steps which would help your date to be perfect…
Dress Comfortably
The first and foremost thing is how you look on your date, as looks decide the first impression. However, make sure that in order to look ultra glamorous or cool, you do not try those outfits in which you are not comfortable. It is better to stick to your original persona, if you are going on a date. This is because any uncomfortable dress can result in weird gestures and ultimately, might lead to a pathetic date. Just dress neatly and groom yourself a little and you are ready!
Choose A Safe Yet Peaceful Venue
If you are going on a date for the first time or you are not well aware of your partner, it is better to stick to public places, like some coffee corner or ice cream parlor. Some popular hangout places can also be chosen. However, do make sure that you do not chose places that are unnecessarily noisy, as you need some peace to talk to your partner and explore him/her.
Keep Your Budget in Mind
You should always keep your budget in mind, while planning a date. In case you are not able to afford a very expensive venue, look for places that have a good crowd, but are not expensive. Student hangout corners and cafeterias are the best options. If you are guy, make sure you are the first one to offer the bill and if you are a girl, try to convince your partner to allow you to pay half the bill.
How to Help Your Child Gain A Positive Self Esteem
How can a parent help to foster healthy self-esteem in a child? These tips can make a big difference:
Watch what you say. Kids are very sensitive to parents’ words. Remember to praise your child not only for a job well done, but also for effort. But be truthful. For example, if your child doesn’t make the soccer team, avoid saying something like, “Well, next time you’ll work harder and make it.” Instead, try “Well, you didn’t make the team, but I’m really proud of the effort you put into it.” Reward effort and completion instead of outcome.
Be a positive role model. If you’re excessively harsh on yourself, pessimistic, or unrealistic about your abilities and limitations, your child may eventually mirror you. Nurture your own self-esteem, and your child will have a great role model.
Identify and redirect your child’s inaccurate beliefs. It’s important for parents to identify kids’ irrational beliefs about themselves, whether they’re about perfection, attractiveness, ability, or anything else. Helping kids set more accurate standards and be more realistic in evaluating themselves will help them have a healthy self-concept. Inaccurate perceptions of self can take root and become reality to kids. For example, a child who does very well in school but struggles with math may say, “I can’t do math. I’m a bad student.” Not only is this a false generalization, it’s also a belief that will set the child up for failure. Encourage kids to see a situation in its true light. A helpful response might be: “You are a good student. You do great in school. Math is just a subject that you need to spend more time on. We’ll work on it together.”
Give positive, accurate feedback. Comments like “You always work yourself up into such a frenzy!” will make kids feel like they have no control over their outbursts. A better statement is, “You were really mad at your brother. But I appreciate that you didn’t yell at him or hit him.” This acknowledges a child’s feelings, rewards the choice made, and encourages the child to make the right choice again next time.
Create a safe, loving home environment. Kids who don’t feel safe or are abused at home will suffer immensely from low self-esteem. A child who is exposed to parents who fight and argue repeatedly may become depressed and withdrawn. Also watch for signs of abuse by others, problems in school, trouble with peers, and other factors that may affect kids’ self-esteem. Deal with these issues sensitively but swiftly. And always remember to respect your kids.
Simple Ways to Make Your Own Cappuccino and Latte Coffee at Home
You don’t need to sit at your favorite coffee shop and leave with a dollar spent just for a cup of cappuccino or latte coffee. You can make more than a cup for the family at home by following these simple steps.
Step 1
Use fresh, cold milk.
Step 2
Using a milk foaming jug, fill with milk from around a third of the jug to a maximum half.
Prepare the milk before the espresso.
Step 3
Position the steam arm tip just below the surface of the milk.
Step 4 – Foaming
Turn the steam on fully – if you get short sharp “tsst” noises then you’re doing it right. Too far below the surface and it will be too quiet and no air will be introduced to the milk and too high above the surface and it will be frothily hissy and you’ll get big bubbles of air in the milk.
The milk and foam will expand so you will need to lower the jug gradually to keep the steam tip just below the surface.
If using a thermometer, the milk should be around 40-45°C before texturing begins.
Step 5 – Texturing
Here you’re looking to work the foamed milk into the rest of the heated milk for texture and consistency. Lower the steam tip into the milk, angle the jug slightly and bring the steam tip towards the side of the jug to swirl the milk.
Depending on the quality of the steam arm, you’re looking for a final milk temperature of around 70°C so turn off the steam before then (the temperature will continue to rise a little). Just remember not to overheat the milk as it will kill both texture and flavour!
Step 6
Remove any excessive air bubbles by banging the jug on a suitable work surface.
Maintain the consistency of the textured milk by swirling the jug, as it will begin to separate after the heating processes.
Step 7
Prepare the espresso coffee into an appropriate cup (using around a 6-8oz cup, if possible).
Step 8
Create the drink. For a cappuccino, you’re looking to pour about a third of foamed milk before pouring through with textured, steamed milk. For a latte, the emphasis is on pouring textured, steamed milk with just a hint of foam.
Remember to keep the steam arm spotlessly clean along with the rest of your espresso coffee making equipment.
Many artists depict themselves in one or more self portraits during their careers. These portraits do more than simply show us what the artists look like. They often reveal the artists’ personalities, interests, and life styles. In this activity, you will be drawing your own self portrait and in the process reveal something about yourself.
Materials: a pencil, a large sheet of paper, and a mirror.
Getting Started: To begin, take a close look at your face in the mirror. Look for unique details such as the shape of your nose, the shape of your eyes, and the shapes made by your hair.
Notice that your eyes are midway between the top of your head and the bottom of your chin. Next, look at the contours of your face. Take your finger and follow along the edges of your face. If you press slightly, you’ll feel the bone structure that makes your face unique.
The Activity: To start your drawing, it is a good idea to work outwards from the center of your face. Start with your nose. Work slowly, keeping your eye focused on the contours of your face in the mirror. Look down at your paper as little as possible.
Rather than only drawing yourself, include something in your picture that will tell others about who you are, what you like to do, or where you live. When you’ve finished, pin your drawing up and stand back from it. Are you satisfied with the result? If so, sign and date your drawing at the bottom. If not, try another one. You’ll get better with practice.
You can also download your self guide on drawing portraits app. Get the best iphone app for fitness and app for working out! This fitness app explores functional fitness and training at its best. Discover how to allow the body to train it was designed to move – get fitter, faster and stronger!
Pine cones have a way of adding a festive look and charm at holiday time. It’s fun to collect them, too, on brisk walks through the woods or in the park.
The best part is that they cost nothing and will last all through the holiday season with no care whatsoever. Here are simple and easy ways to decorate with pine cones.
Welcome Basket
Fill a wicker basket with pine cones and decorate with bits of greenery and a bright, red bow. Place on a dining room table as a centerpiece, on a mantel between two candles, or hang in an entryway door to set a holiday mood.
Fireplace Basket
A huge basket filled with pine cones looks wonderful next to a basket of wood at the side of a fireplace. If your cone collecting doesn’t result in enough cones to fill a big basket, stuff the bottom with crumpled newspaper and fill only the top with cones. Toss one or two in the fireplace each time you light a fire for a natural, woodsy pine scent.
Simple Wreath
This elegant wreath only uses a few of your pine cones and is an easy one for the kids to make with a little help from you. Cut corrugated cardboard in a thin doughnut shape of the diameter you want. Apply a good amount of craft glue to the cardboard shape and glue on your pine cones, placing the cones on their sides rather than bottoms. When dry, attach a picture hook to the back of the form and hang on a door or wall.
Heart Wreath
Follow the procedure for the round wreath but cut the form in the shape of a heart to make a charming, heartwarming decoration for a door or wall.
Place Card Holders
Here’s a very eco-friendly idea that takes no time at all. Paint the cones with a mixture of sugar and water to act as glue and pour sugar sprinkles over the cones. Let dry and add a label with guest’s name. Use eggcups, teacups, espresso cups, or tiny bowls to hold pine cones as place cards. When you are done using the cones, you can toss those outside for the birds to enjoy.
Friendship bracelets made for friends should be tied on by the friend if possible to an arm or as an anklet on an ankle and worn until it falls off naturally. Threads used are floss and will wear in time.
There are some friendship bracelets made for wishing wishes, those are very fun but tend to be thinner as the friends like them to fall off faster so that the wish can come true. Here are a few tips for getting started, then traverse that other pages for the basic instructions and some friendship bracelet patterns.
Use embroidery floss the make your friendship bracelets and keep them organized from the start. There are organizers and thread holders that will help your teen know what colors they have available and keep the threads from becoming one big knot. Your ‘friendship bracelets making kit’ will need:
embroidery floss,
scissors,
measuring tape or ruler,
container to hold the threads,
tabs to twine thread on(helps keep them from turning into a knotted mess),
safety pin and pillow, clip board or masking tape.
Give yourself some time to learn the steps. It takes a lot of patience and practice but it’s like riding a bike, once you make friendship bracelets, you’ll never forget how. Start with an easy pattern, but don’t be too afraid to progress to the more difficult patterns once you know how to do the basic knot.
Once you have all of the steps down, you can try any pattern you want or even make your own! Use graph paper to plot out a recurring pattern with two colored threads to start.
If you have a lot of shoelaces at home which are no longer useful (as you may think) then you are about to discover ways to reuse them. Throwing them away is not the idea here. Now, here are five ways to put your old laces back into use:
1. Turn shoelaces into pet toys.
String a lace or two through a mini jingle bell and you’ll get your kitty riled up in no time.
2. Add a stylish touch to long braids.
Add an interesting shoelace to your ponytail or braid it through your hair. If you have shorter hair, try it as a headband.
3. Use laces as ribbon when you’re wrapping presents.
Who needs to buy expensive ribbon when you can use what you already have on hand? Use a simple knot and you’re good to go. Add beads to the laces for added creativity and you’re wrapping job will be as special as the gift within.
4. Make your tablecloth fit your table.
If your tablecloth doesn’t fit your table, I’ve got the remedy for you. Use your old laces to tie each corner of the tablecloth into what resembles a ponytail. You can leave the shoelace showing or if you would rather hide it with the tablecloth, pooch the fabric on top of the shoelace knot by pulling it upward, back through the shoelace knot.
5. Turn laces into Christmas tree garlands.
First, tie a bunch of laces together into one long strand. Then string some beads (with a wide hole so that they don’t get stuck) onto the lace. Get creative and add whatever color beads you like before adding it as a decorative touch to your tree.
Before there were CDs or MP3s, there were cassette tapes. These tapes held entire albums on a magnetized tape. But, as with all technology, they became obsolete, and many music fans of the era still have them lying around. Because of the different kinds of plastic inside the tapes, they are not usually recycled, but disposing of them doesn’t have to be difficult. You can keep your cassettes from falling into a landfill.
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