| How to Stop and Smell the Roses Posted: 23 May 2019 05:00 PM PDT The expression "stop and smell the roses" is not simply about flowers, but rather about how to live your life with a deeper appreciation of the world around us. It reminds us to slow down and notice the little things that make life worthwhile. Despite a busy life, it is important to know how to be present in the moment; otherwise those moments will pass you by. EditMaking Time for Family and Friends - Take time out of your schedule be with your family. Quality time with your parents, children, relatives, and spouse can have a lasting impact on their overall physical and mental health. Our busy lives often get in the way of developing connections and spending needed time with family and friends. Here are some ways spend quality time:
- Have dinner around a dinner table, rather than in front of the TV, so that you have more time to connect.
- Go on road trips, sightsee, or share new experiences together.
- Visit relatives that you don't see as often or make time to call or write them.
- Remember important dates and events, like birthdays and graduations. Make that day special, and be present in all ways possible, physically and mentally. Participate in the interests of your family. By remembering the things that matter to them most, you can build a stronger bond with your loved ones.
- Keep a calendar and mark down any special days ahead of time, so you don't forget things like game days, dance rehearsal, or anniversaries. By keeping a schedule, you'll be better able to prioritize it.
- Connect more with your friends. While it's important to make time for your family, your friends are like your second family. Make sure that not all your time is consumed by one person or thing. Friends can help to keep things in perspective.
- Have coffee or tea with friends, and see what going on in their lives.
- Meet up with a friend regularly. Don't let school work, your job, or your daily chores consume you so that all you do is text or email them. Connecting in person, rather than online or by phone, can have a lasting impact.
- Have one-on-one time with friends and relatives. While many social activities are done in groups, like family gatherings or outings with friends, it's important to build closer relationships with people, and really get to know how they're doing. This is particularly true with a sibling or friend who is going through a tough time.
- Set aside time to make them feel special. Showing empathy is part of being "present in the moment." [1]
EditBuilding Deeper Relationships - Be present. Put away your cell phone, tablet, laptop, and other devices that distract. Be present in the moment with the people around you. It's easier now to multi-task with modern technology, but it often lessens the experience of "being in the moment."
- Be open to listening to those around you by taking the time to really hear what they are saying. Notice their body language, and tune-in to their actions.
- Laugh and be playful together. Share in activities with others that bring joy. Make the everyday experiences more memorable by sharing them together. Going to the grocery store can be an adventure. Making dinner together can be rewarding.
- Humor can make ordinary things seem fun.
- Make your partner, spouse, or boyfriend/girlfriend feel special. No matter if you are just starting out in a relationship, or have been married for 30 years, it's important to show that you care about your partner even after all these years. [2]
- Make a special meal for your partner. Be creative. Putting in effort that goes beyond the usual routine is often rewarding for both of you.
- Give a small gift to show your love. Whether it's a single rose, a handmade craft, or a card, it makes a world of difference to show you care. Small surprises can become lasting memories and help to build stronger relationships.
- Give back with a simple act of kindness. As you become more busy, you may start to be in a sort of "bubble" of school, work, and home, wherein you forget that there are lots of other people going through stressful times like you. So while you're rushing to get from Point A to Point B, stop for a minute and look at the people around you. There might be someone in need, or who is feeling down. Be kind to them, even in the smallest of ways.
- Sometimes the smallest gesture of kindness can change someone's outlook on their day, their week, their year, or their life.
EditAppreciating the Small Things - Be mindful about the world around you. When your day is filled with work, chores, or activities, you may lose touch with yourself. Through the act of mindfulness, you are making a gentle effort to be continuously present by:[3]
- Being present "on purpose" through a conscience direction of awareness.
- Being attentive to the present moment. Your mind may be racing with things to do, and people to see, but instead you focus on the simpler things.
- Being non-judgmentally aware. By paying more attention to the moment, you experience more about the world around you. You may listen or see more than before, because of your heighten awareness.
- Be positive and live happier. Studies have shown that being more appreciative about one's life and one's world will lead people to live more fulfilled lives. The act of paying attention to the good things in life, and being appreciative actually makes people happier. [4]
- Surround yourself with positive people who don't always focus on the negative.
- Focus on the present moment, and find something in your line of vision that makes you happy. Hold that image in your mind, and focus on it in a positive way.
- Meditate. This is a helpful practice for mindfulness, as a way to clear your head of negative or hyperactive thoughts. It can make you feel "centered" in a chaotic world.
- Use positive affirmations throughout the day. How we see the world is all a matter of the mind. Our mind can be shaped and changed. One way is through positive rather than negative statements about yourself. Affirmations can build your confidence, and keep you focused on the good things in life.[5]
- Get in touch with nature. In our daily lives, we are often disconnected with nature, and all its beauty. Our Earth is a reminder of how precious life is. Appreciate the little things, both big and small:
- Walk along a beach, river, or lake. The sound of water can be calming.
- Notice the birds in the trees or sky. Watching a large bird migration can be magical.
- Go star-gazing. The universe is big and beautiful.
- Be thankful. Take a deep breath and look around you. While there are things that you wish could be better, be grateful for the things that you have, and the beauty of living on this Earth. You only have one life to live, and it is yours.
- Stop and smell the roses--literally. Go into a florist shop, or a garden, or even out in the wild. Flowers are beautiful, and smell oh-so-sweet. The scent of a fresh flower is like nothing else.
- Sometimes when we see a lot of flowers at once, we forget the beauty that each has. Look at one flower closely. Notice things about it that you never saw before.
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| How to Melt Jolly Ranchers Posted: 23 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT Jolly Ranchers are a treat in their own right, but by melting them down, you can make all kinds of new treats. Whether you're in a hurry or have time to be a perfectionist, melting Jolly Ranchers for your next dessert recipe is quick, easy, and most of all, tasty! EditUsing a Microwave - Place 4 Jolly Ranchers in a microwave-safe dish. A bowl will work, but depending on where you will be pouring the melted candy, a coffee cup will pour a little cleaner.
- If you are microwaving more than 4 candies at a time, you will need to increase the cooking time.
- 4 candies will produce about of liquid.
- Be sure whatever it is has a handle because the candy will be quite hot once melted.[1]
- A glass Pyrex measuring cup works quite well. If heating multiple batches, though, give the glass time to slowly cool between heating.
- Microwave the Jolly Ranchers at 80% power. Initially cook them for approximately 1 minute. Microwaves will vary, so you will need to adjust based on your specific model. This should get all four pieces to melt in one go.[2]
- If the candies do not melt entirely on the first heat, cook them again in 15-second intervals. Then in the second batch, heat for the combined time.
- Remove the candies from the microwave carefully. Once the candies are melted, they will be very hot, so handle with care. Using an oven mitt or dish towel can help you handle the dish if it is hot as well.
- The liquid will begin to harden again within a few minutes, so you will need to work quickly. If it hardens again, simply reheat the candy in 15-second intervals to liquify them again.
EditMelting in the Oven - Preheat your oven to . Some recipes call for different heats, which you can follow, but this temperature will allow the candies to be melted in a shorter time.[3]
- Place your unwrapped candies in an oven safe pot while the oven heats. Use a little more candy than your recipe or idea calls for so you have extra to work with. Make sure the candies are level with or lower than the lid of the pot so that the liquid will not overflow when it is done cooking.
- Put the candies in evenly stacked layers to ensure they melt evenly in the pot, depending on how much liquid you need to make.
- You can expect the liquid to be about half the height of the candies themselves depending on how well they are packed into the pot.
- Heat your candies in the oven for 10-12 minutes. You do not need to stir the liquid. The less agitation while heating, the fewer air bubbles you will have. If working towards a thin candy-coating, air bubbles will cause cracking.[4]
- Remove from the oven when the candy has melted. Keep an eye on the liquid as you get near the 10 minute mark. You will want to remove the candy once all the pieces have melted fully. If you heat for too long, it will begin to bubble from the heat. Don't forget to use oven mitts!
- Use the liquid immediately after removing it from the heat. Keep the oven on in case the mixture begins to harden again, but you should have a few minutes to work with the liquid before it does.
- If the liquid re-hardens before you are done, pop it back in the oven for about 2-3 minutes.[5]
EditUsing Your Melted Jolly Ranchers - Use a mold to reshape the candy. By using a decorative mold, you can reshape the Jolly Ranchers into a themed candy. Allow the candy liquid to cool and re-harden for about 10-15 minutes at room temperature.[6]
- Make sure your mold is approved for high heat. Some plastic or chocolate molds will not hold up to the melted liquid.
- Coat apples with your Jolly Ranchers. Dip each apple in the liquid and hold above the pot for about 30 seconds to allow the liquid to stop dripping. Then place the apple onto a non-stick sheet or plate to cool. In 10-15 minutes, you've got a new take on caramel apples.[7]
- If the liquid isn't deep enough to dip anymore, you may need to transfer them to a smaller, deeper bowl or pot. Otherwise, you can pour the liquid over the apples, although this can be more messy!
- Use a stick or skewer to pierce and handle the apples. This makes dipping and eating cleaner and safer.
- Each apple will need about 12 candies to coat it.[8]
- Make lollipops using molds and candy sticks. You can find specific lollipop molds in stores that just require pouring the liquid over the candy stick into the mold![9]
- Using either of the melting methods above, you will simply pour the liquid over the molds that have a lollipop stick in them.
- Once the candy hardens completely, it will have formed around the stick into a lollipop.
- Mix the liquid into your favorite drinks. The melted candy will dissolve well into other liquids, such as alcohol. Approximately 12 candies to 8 fluid ounces (227 mL) of liquid will make a fairly sweet drink.[10]
- Try mixing them into a brewed tea while it is hot. Then once it cools, you will have a fruity iced tea!
- Cooled drinks will take a little longer for the candies to mix with. Consider heating the drink before mixing in the candy liquid if you are in a hurry.
- If you have air bubbles, use a small metal spoon or a toothpick to press them out.
- Do not leave the oven or microwave unattended while cooking.
- Be absolutely certain your mold is rated for high heat. The candy will be extremely hot, and you don't want to melt the mold.
EditThings You'll Need - Jolly Rancher candies
- Microwave or oven
- Microwave or oven-safe pot or bowl
- Oven mitt
- Spoon
- Candy mold
- Apples (if making candied apples)
EditReferences
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| How to Introduce Your Kitten to the Outdoors Safely Posted: 23 May 2019 01:00 AM PDT Letting your kitten out for the first time can be nerve-wracking, but there are steps you can take to keep it safe and healthy. Introduce the outdoors gradually when it's at least 6 months old, and limit its time outside at first. Be sure to vaccinate and spay or neuter your kitten before letting it out, and remove hazards from your yard, such as toxic chemicals. Keep in mind vets recommend keeping cats inside, so consider enriching your pet's indoor environment with lots of toys, climbing perches, and hiding spots. EditTeaching Your Kitten to Go Outside - Enclose your yard before letting out your cat. To keep your cat from getting out, install special attachments to your fence that prevent it climbing over. Find these fencing attachments online and at pet stores.[1]
- Enclosing your yard with fence attachments is especially important if you live near potential hazards, such as busy roads or highways.
- Introduce your kitten to the outdoors just before mealtime. If you free feed your cat, take its food away several hours before you train it to go outside. Otherwise, let it outside for the first time just before one of its scheduled feeding times. A hungry kitten will be more likely to respond when you offer a bowl of food and call it back indoors.[2]
- Get a bowl of food ready just before you let it out for the first time. That way, you won't have to leave your kitten outside unsupervised while you fix its food.
- Choose a quiet, stress-free time to let your cat go outside. Make sure the surrounding area is free of scary, stressful sights and sounds, like a neighbor's barking dog or noisy kids playing nearby. Additionally, check the weather forecast, and let your cat out on a dry day.[3]
- If your kitten gets spooked, it could form a negative association with the outdoors or, even worse, run away and get lost.
- Cats use their sense of smell to find their way back to your home. Avoid letting your kitten out after a rainstorm since it will remove the scent and make it more difficult for your cat to find its way back.
- Open the door and let it explore on its own terms. When you're ready to train your kitten to go out, simply open the door to your yard and take a step outside. Hold the door open, and allow your pet to follow you outside at its own pace. Cats are cautious animals, so it'll probably take a couple of minutes before it's comfortable leaving the house.[4]
- Keep the door open so your kitten can go back inside if it feels squeamish. Don't pick your cat up or force it to go outside. If it darts around or hides under a shrub, try not to worry. Keep your distance and let it get accustomed to your yard.
- If your kitten doesn't want to go outside or runs back into the house, just let it stay inside. If it wants to be an indoor kitty, keep it active and entertained with toys, scratching posts, and climbing perches.
- Call your cat and offer food after about 10 minutes. When you're just starting out, keep your cat's trips outside brief. After 10 minutes, offer it a bowl of food and call it back indoors. If it doesn't come right away, give its bowl a shake and make encouraging verbal cues to get its attention.[5]
- Remember to prepare your kitten's food in advance so you don't have to head into the house and leave it alone outside. In addition, grab some of its favorite treats just in case the bowl of food doesn't catch its interest.
- It's also helpful to teach your cat to come before letting it go outside. Offer a tasty treat, say "Come," and reward your pet with the treat when it comes to you. Keep practicing until it reliably comes on command.[6]
- Stay calm if your kitten doesn't come back immediately. If it doesn't return right away when you call it, don't try to chase it, shout, or call frantically. Try calling it using a calm, normal voice instead.[7]
- Food with a strong odor, such as sardines or tuna, could do the trick. Place the food inside near the door, keep the door open, and wait for your cat to come investigate.
- Increase its time outdoors gradually. Practice going outside every day and, with each training session, add a few minutes to its time outdoors. When your kitten seems to come and go with confidence, you can start letting it spend longer periods of time outside without supervision.[8]
- Even after acclimating your cat to the outdoors, keep it inside overnight and in hot, cold, or rainy weather. Cars and predators pose a greater risk when it's dark, and bad weather could take a toll on your cat's health.
EditKeeping Your Kitten Healthy Outdoors - Let your cat out only after it's fully vaccinated. Wait at least a week after your cat has finished its course of vaccinations before letting it go outside. A cat that goes outside is exposed to more diseases than cats that stay indoors, so vaccinations are essential. Consult your kitten's vet about legally required vaccinations, and ask if they recommend any additional vaccines for cats that spend time outdoors.[9]
- Generally, a kitten completes its core vaccinations by the time it's 5 or 6 months old.
- Keep in mind some important vaccines aren't always legally required. For instance, although it isn't always a core vaccination, your vet will still recommend vaccinating your cat against feline leukemia virus (FeLV) if you plan on letting it go outside.[10]
- Spay or neuter your kitten before letting it go outside. If your cat isn't already fixed, schedule an appointment with its vet. When kept as pets, kittens are typically spayed or neutered by the time they're 6 months old. However, with proper veterinary care, even an adult cat well into its teens can be fixed.[11]
- Spaying or neutering your kitten lowers its risk of developing cancer and other illnesses. In addition, you wouldn't want to deal with a litter of kittens after letting your female cat outside unsupervised. Finally, fixing your cat will lower its risk of getting into fights with other felines.
- Give your cat routine flea and tick preventative medicine. While oral medications are available, topical treatments are the most popular routine parasite preventatives for cats. To use the treatment, apply the medication between your cat's shoulder blades once a month. Follow the dosage instructions on the packaging; doses vary and usually depend on a pet's weight.[12]
- Discuss parasite preventative treatments with your cat's vet and use your product as instructed.
- While over-the-counter products are available, treatments prescribed by vets are more effective, and it's wise to have your vet recommend the right product and dosage for your pet.
- Keep your cat away from chemicals, toxic plants, and other hazards. Check your backyard for hazards, and make sure anything that could hurt your cat is out of its reach. Store chemicals, such as antifreeze, on shelves in a garage or shed. Research any plants you keep in your garden and make sure they're safe for cats.[13]
EditPreventing It from Getting Lost - Get your pet acclimated to your home before letting it go outside. It usually takes a few weeks for a cat to adjust to its surroundings. However, the right length of time depends on your kitten. Observe its behavior, and make sure it appears confident, interacts with you and your family members, and knows where it can find its food, litter box, and toys.[14]
- Place a tag with your contact information on your kitten's collar. To stay on the safe side, always keep identification on your cat. Secure a collar to its neck with a tag that lists your name, your cat's name, your phone number, and your address.[15]
- Cats can squeeze in and out of tight spaces, so make sure the collar fits securely around its neck. The collar shouldn't be so loose that it can slip off, but you should be able to fit 2 fingers between the collar and your cat's neck.[16]
- Microchip your cat just in case it gets lost. A pet microchip is a device the size of a grain of rice that, when scanned, reveals your contact information. Implanting one is a relatively inexpensive procedure, so call the vet and invest in a chip just in case your cat gets lost.[17]
- Once a chip is implanted in your cat's neck or upper back, you'll need to keep it updated. If you move or change your phone number, go online or call the company that hosts the chip to upload your new contact information.
- Consider harnessing your cat or letting it out in an enclosed area. To prevent your cat from getting lost altogether, don't let it out unsupervised. Walk it on a leash, keep it tethered in your yard, or let it out in an enclosed patio or cat run.[18]
- Keeping your cat harnessed or enclosed is best if you live near potential hazards, such as a busy road, predatory birds, or a big dog that routinely gets loose.
- Once your cat gets used to going outside, you could install a cat flap in your back door so it can come and go as it pleases. Flaps are available with special sensors that are triggered by your cat's collar, which prevents stray animals from entering your house.
- Remember that vets typically recommend keeping pet cats indoors at all times. Unless your cat exhibits destructive behavior that can't be corrected with training, consider keeping it inside.
- As an alternative to going outside, keep your indoor cat entertained with lots of toys, scratching posts, hiding spots, perches, and climbing spots.
- Don't let your kitten go outside unless it's at least 6 months old. Even without taking vaccinations or neutering into consideration, a kitten less than 6 months old is too fragile to venture outside on its own.
- Avoid leaving your cat outside unsupervised if you live near potential hazards, including busy roads and predatory wildlife.
EditReferences EditQuick Summary
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