| How to Cover Windows on Doors Posted: 22 Nov 2018 04:00 PM PST Covering windows on doors can be challenging — some doors have multiple square windows, and some have one long rectangular window. Finding a perfect covering for such varying shapes and sizes can be difficult. Before looking at window treatments, decide for yourself how much privacy you expect from a window treatment, or how much light you want to filter through. Once you identify this, you will be able to quickly find a method for covering your windows that is best suited for your needs. EditCreating Privacy on French Door Windows - Install wooden or plastic shutters to create a wall of privacy between rooms. The slotted framework of the shutters will allow you to filter in as much or as little light into a room as you want. These work great on simple French doors with large, clear glass panes, and can give the room a modern or tropical vibe.[1]
- For a modern look, get white shutters that will match the molding or framework within the room. This will tie the overall design of the room together. Wooden shutters that are simply polished and unpainted will give a rustic or farmhouse feel to any French door.
- Pick shutters that are a bold color that will contrast nicely with the rest of the room. If you have pops of green within the beach-themed room, maybe get the shutters in a similar shade.
- Hang lightweight or sheer curtains to allow sunlight to filter through. Position a long curtain rod over the French doors, and drape curtains that float just above the floor. This will modernize and create some privacy between two living spaces. Stick to lightweight or sheer fabrics that will allow sunlight to filter through. Thick, dark panels can give the illusion that a room is more cluttered or smaller than it really is.[2]
- Consider creating a double layer of curtains. The inner rod will support sheer curtains for when you want the light to filter through, and the outer rod will support curtains that will block out the light entirely.
- If you do opt for thicker curtains, make sure to note the packaged weight of the panels. Curtain rod manufacturers will typically have a recommended or a maximum curtain weight for each rod. Putting a heavy curtain on a thin rod may bend or even break the rod.
- Apply window film to the panels to make the glass opaque. Window film is a very common window treatment for French doors as it offers a clean, modernized look, and allows sunlight to filter through. Just keep in mind that the film has to be measured, cut, and carefully applied to each individual glass pane on the French doors. This may be a project you need to tackle over a few days, but once it is completed, you will be happy with the results.[3]
- To apply the window film you are going to have to treat it with a solution of water and film aid concentrate. Follow the manufacturing instructions on how to properly adhere the window film you picked out to avoid getting air bubbles or creases in the film.
- Use a pair of roller-shades to quickly cover or unveil the French doors. These are good if you want to switch between having complete privacy or complete visibility between two rooms. Sometimes curtains can get in the way or clutter a room. Due to the compact nature of the roller-shades, they are good to use on French doors that are opened and closed multiple times throughout the day.[4]
- Roller shades are often available to purchase at local hardware or window stores, and come in a variety of neutral and bold colors.
- With an accented, colored stripe down the length of the fabric, Roman shades are great to use if you want a slight pop of color on a relatively neutral window treatment. These are a form of roller-shades that have more of a pleated-look, and will add texture to the surrounding decor.
EditConcealing Fan-Shaped Windows above Doors - Frost the glass with a special finishing spray to create an elegant look. This is an easy way to lessen the transparency of the fan-shaped windows above your door, while still letting natural light filter through. A single coat of the frosting spray will subtly lessen the transparency of the window, and adding additional layers of the spray will increase the opaqueness.[5]
- Frosting spray paint can be purchased at most hardware or construction stores, and it can be ordered online with large retailers.
- Adhere a pleated arch shade for a simple textured window treatment. Arch shades will perfectly mold to the awkwardly shaped window, and provide an ample amount of privacy for your home or office space. These treatments often are made of pleated paper or a sturdy, pleated fabric.[6]
- The paper version usually only comes in neutral tones like white or off-white, which means it will allow light to filter through. These inexpensive shades can often be purchased in the household goods section of department stores, or in the window section of hardware stores.
- Fabric treatments will most likely have to be custom made through a window or shade manufacturer, and can be costly if your window is large. The fabric treatment, however, will be more durable than the paper option, and is offered in a variety of patterns, colors, and textures of fabric.
- Use tissue paper and contact paper to create personalized stained glass. Have fun creating a specific color scheme out of different sized tissue paper squares and rectangles. The translucency of the contact paper will allow light to shine through and give a stained glass effect, but will still be tinted enough to give the illusion of a window covering. This method is great if you have one window to cover, or if you are looking for a fun craft to do with children.[7]
- If you don't want a stained glass look, but more of a collage of colors, cut the tissue paper into squares, circles, rectangles, or even flowers. Then layer the shapes onto the contact paper. This will give your window a more freeform and almost watercolor effect. This technique looks especially good when you have a specific color palette of tissue paper, or have varying shapes to layer with.[8]
- If there are multiple glass panes within the fan-window, the stained glass or collage treatment will have to be done for each pane separately.[9]
EditCovering Long Rectangular Windows - Hang a mini-spring tension rod for flexibility with curtain styles. If you have long rectangular windows by your front door, consider getting a mini-spring tension rod to create some privacy. Tension rods are easy to adjust to different window widths, and simple to install. A lot of curtain stores will sell narrow, lightweight curtains to fit that awkward space, or you can just make your own.[10]
- Have fun with changing out the curtains during different seasons, holidays, or other special occasions. If you have anything decorating the outside of your door or have colorful doormat placed in front of it, try picking out curtains that will tie into the color scheme of those items.
- Stick on static window clings to obscure the transparency of the glass. When you think of window clings, you probably imagine the character ones you put up for holidays. However, craft stores and online retailers do make modern, everyday static clings to decorate a window or wall for very little money. The window clings will give you the flexibility to continuously change the window treatment with minimal effort, and without damaging the glass.[11]
- Get window clings that will match the surrounding decor. Maybe you want a geometric pattern to match the doormat on the front porch, or maybe you decorated the outside of the door to your classroom and want fun window clings that are numbers and letters to match.
- Use the window clings as seasonal looks. Apply a series of window clings that are decorated like watercolor cherry blossoms for a spring look, and adhere ones that look like branches filled with orange leaves during the autumn.
- Just make sure to clean and dry your window before sticking on the static clings.
- Give your window personality by decorating a piece of cardstock. Use photos, cartoon characters, or stickers to decorate the cardstock. This is a great option if you want to decorate the window on a door to an office or classroom. It will liven up your entrance, and give insight into your personality.[12]
- After decorating the cardstock, simply adhere it to the window using double-stick tape on each of the corners.
- If you want something more transparent so people can peak into your room or office, stick the photos onto clear contact paper and leave space between the items. This way when you stick it to the window, people will be able to look at and through the decoration.
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| How to Improve Long Term Memory Posted: 22 Nov 2018 08:00 AM PST It can be difficult to commit things to your long-term memory, resulting in memories, facts, and other information getting lost over time. Luckily, there are lots of ways you can prevent this! For example, you can change the way you approach new information in order to successfully remember it in the long-term. Memory devices are helpful ways to improve long-term recall, and a few simple lifestyle changes can also make a big difference. EditRetaining Information Effectively - Focus intensely on the new information. You'll be more likely to remember something in the future if you give it all of your attention while you're trying to learn it. Don't try to multitask.[1]
- Minimize distractions by turning off the TV, switching off music, and putting your phone somewhere you can't see it. Limiting the number of things competing for your attention helps new information move from your short-term to your long-term memory.
- Try asking your roommate or family to give you some quiet time. If you have kids, see if someone else can watch them for a while so you can have an uninterrupted study session.
- Take a break after learning something new. Just sit quietly or meditate for a few minutes. Avoid distractions or trying to get other things done during this time, as it will interfere with the process of building the new memories you've just formed.[2]
- Taking a nap after a study session can help you remember it later! Research has shown that when mice go to sleep after learning a new task, new neural connections are formed in their brains.[3]
- Review information right before bed. Studies suggest that your brain uses sleeping hours to review and select what you will be able to recall in the long-term. For this reason, you can improve your long-term memory recall by going over information that you want to retain right before you go to sleep.[4]
- Organize information into related clusters. Information is stored in your memory in chunks, so group similar items together and memorize these smaller chunks individually.[5]
- For example, if you're trying to remember a list of items to buy at the grocery store, group them into categories like "produce" and "dairy products," and try to memorize each category separately.
- Rearrange your study material into related categories. Try typing up an outline, highlighting similar ideas with the same color highlighter, or copying information onto index cards and making a different pile for each concepts.[6]
- Occasionally mix up all the information from your different sections, and study the material out of order. This can help you notice new connections between more distantly related topics.[7]
- Space out your study sessions. Your ability to remember things can drastically improve if you have many small study sessions over a longer period of time, as opposed to spending a large chunk of time cramming all of the information at once.
- Each time you review something, you will remember it better, so when first memorizing something repeat it often, and over time you can review it with less frequency. For example, when learning a new fact, first repeat it five seconds later, then thirty seconds later, then two minutes later, and so on.[8]
- Even if you only have a little bit of time to study, it helps to space out your material as much as possible within one study session. For example, don't review the same few items over and over again, and then move on to the next few. Instead, go over each item once, and after you've covered all of the information go back and review everything again.[9]
EditUsing Memory Devices - Form associations between new and remembered information. If you can link new ideas with previously established ones, then you can increase the chance that new memories will be formed. Try coming up with a familiar picture, song, joke, or rhyme that you can associate with the new material.[10]
- Form a picture in your mind that includes the new fact. For example, if you're meeting someone named Peggy, picture them with a pirate hat, eye patch, and peg leg.[11]
- Try making an acronym or acrostic to learn multiple pieces of information in order. Invent a sentence where the first letter of each word stands for a word you're trying to remember. A popular example is used by music students learning the order of notes on a treble clef staff, where the phrase "Every Good Boy Does Fine" represents the notes "EGBDF."[12]
- Come up with a rhyme that contains the information you need to remember. For example, "In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue."[13]
- It's helpful to come up with an association early on, when you're first learning the information. The more associations you can create, the more likely it is that the new fact will stick in your memory.[14]
- Engage as many of your senses as possible when learning new info. It's common to have strong memories tied to certain sounds, smells, tastes, or feels, so take in new material in as many ways as possible.[15]
- Pay attention to any pictures or graphs that accompany the information you're trying to learn. Alternatively, draw your own simple diagram to summarize the idea.[16]
- Listen to an audio version of a book, or read text out loud. Notice which methods seem to work best for you, and try to incorporate those learning styles into your future learning endeavors.
- Repeat new facts as soon as you come across them. It may be boring, but simply repeating new information over and over in different ways will help it stick in your brain better, especially if you space out the repetition over time.[17]
- For example, if you're trying to remember the definition of a new word, read it several times to yourself. Then speak the definition out loud a couple times, and try writing it down once or twice.
- It helps to repeat the information over a spaced-out period of time. For example, if you want to remember someone's name, say it out loud immediately after they introduce themselves, and again at the end of the conversation. Repeat it in your head a couple minutes later, and again at the end of the night.
- Teach someone else the information you're trying to learn. Teaching can help you remember and understand things better yourself. Find a classmate or co-worker who needs to learn the same information, form a study group, and take turns teaching each other different concepts. Alternately, ask a friend if they're willing to learn something new from you![18]
- Test yourself after learning something new. Simply re-reading the same information isn't good enough - you have to actually practice retrieving the information from your memory in order to strengthen the connections within your brain.
- If you're working out of a textbook with quizzes at the end of each chapter, go through and answer several of the questions. You can also try asking yourself questions about the material, and looking up the answers you come up with in order to double-check yourself.[19]
- Many people don't like tests because they feel frustrated when they realize they've forgotten something they've just tried to learn, but going through the process of forgetting and re-learning new things helps better cement memories in your mind.
- Be sure to immediately check your answers to make sure you've gotten them right. If you answer something wrong, you will be more likely to remember it incorrectly in the future as well, so immediately correct yourself and repeat the right answer a few more times.[20]
- Recover a missing memory by thinking of associations you have with it. When you can't remember something that you're sure you know, think of when you might have learned that piece of information. Try to remember where you were, who told you, or what you were doing, and it may help jostle your brain into remembering.[21]
EditKeeping Your Brain Healthy - Eat heart-healthy foods to improve long-term memory function. Your heart is responsible for pumping blood to your head, so keeping your circulatory system healthy will also aid your brain.
- Munch on lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. In particular, strawberries, blueberries, and leafy greens are thought to help keep your brain sharp as you age.[22]
- Eat more unsaturated fats, and fewer saturated fats. For example, cooking with olive or canola oil is healthier than cooking with butter.
- Make sure your diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in high quantities in fish.
- Get some aerobic exercise. Pumping up your heart rate can improve long-term memory recall and reduce your risk of developing brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease.[23]
- Exercising boosts the amount of blood flowing to your brain, and it spurs your brain to release a chemical that helps fix damaged brain cells.
- Reduce your stress levels. This can keep your brain sharper over time. Try meditating, adopting a positive mindset, and finding healthy outlets for stress.[24]
- Get more sleep. Your brain function will get worse as you get older, but it may decline less if you're getting enough rest. Sleep also helps cement information in your memory.[25]
- Try taking more naps, or getting to bed at an earlier time.
- Get better quality sleep by reducing light and noise pollution in your bedroom.
- Take part in social activities. Research suggests that your memory declines less over time if you're living a socially active life. Put in the effort to meet new people and maintain your relationships with friends and family.
- Spend time engaging with people who like to have interesting conversations. Try meeting up with people regularly for meals, or scheduling phone conversations with friends you want to keep in touch with.[26]
- Find people who have things in common with you by looking for new local communities to join. See if there are volunteer opportunities with organizations you care about, or use social media to seek out local groups or clubs.[27]
- If you can't find any groups that appeal to you, start your own! You could try gathering some friends and starting a book club or a walking group.
- Keep your brain mentally active. Challenging yourself to learn new things helps keep your brain healthy by spurring growth of brain cells. Make sure you're regularly exposing yourself to new ideas.[28]
- Try taking a class. See if there are any interesting offerings at a local community college, or sign up for an online skills course.[29]
- Get in the habit of trying out different mental exercises. Do a daily or weekly crossword puzzle or sudoku.
- Pick up some more challenging reading material. Thinking about complex ideas and learning new vocabulary can help keep your mental skills sharp.
- Occasionally change your study time or location. Switching up your environment can improve your ability to remember the information later.[30]
- Try swapping the order of the what you're learning during a long study session. When you have a large block of information, it's often easier to remember the facts at the beginning and end while the ones in the middle get lost. Restructure your material once or twice over the course of studying so that you'll be more likely to remember all of it.[31]
- Spend extra time reviewing information that is harder to remember. Some things are more naturally committed to memory than others, so pay attention what is easier and what is harder for you to recall and adjust your study session accordingly.[32]
- It's very tempting to cram material right before a big test or presentation, but avoid it as much as possible! Repeating the information regularly, over a longer period of time will help you remember it.[33]
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| How to Celebrate Thanksgiving Posted: 22 Nov 2018 12:00 AM PST Thanksgiving is celebrated annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. For many, Thanksgiving is about spending time with family members and friends, and being thankful for the people and things in their life. It is typically celebrated by having a big meal with a turkey as the centerpiece. Watching the Thanksgiving Day parade, football, volunteering, and playing games are also ways to celebrate Thanksgiving. EditPlanning Thanksgiving Day - Invite family members and friends a month in advance. Make a list of family and friends that you would like to celebrate Thanksgiving with. Call them to let them know that you will be celebrating Thanksgiving at your house and that you would like them to come. Letting them know in advance will allow them to make plans if they need to travel.[1]
- Be aware that some people may decline because they already have plans for Thanksgiving.
- Choose a potluck-style Thanksgiving meal for easier prep. A potluck-style meal will help you shoulder the burden of cooking. If you choose to have this type of meal, ask your guests what they would like to contribute to the meal. Make a list of the dishes they will be bringing. Then provide the rest of the food.[2]
- The host will typically make the turkey for a potluck-style Thanksgiving meal.
- Buy the turkey two to three weeks in advance. This way you can ensure that you will have a turkey for the meal. Buy the turkey from your local grocery store or a turkey farm. Purchase a 12-pound (190-ounce) turkey to feed 10 to 15 people. Choose a 16-pound (260-ounce) turkey for 15 or more people. Place the turkey in the freezer once you get home.[3]
- A typical 12 to 16-pound (190 to 260-ounce) turkey costs $21 to $25.
- Make a grocery list. Make a list of all the ingredients you will need to prepare the meal. To beat the rush, buy dry ingredients one to two weeks in advance. Buy fresh ingredients five to seven days in advance.[4]
- For example, buy bread, canned pumpkin, chicken broth, butter, and the ham two weeks in advance. Buy cranberries, green beans, rolls, corn, sweet potatoes, and milk five to seven days in advance.
EditCooking the Meal - Thaw your turkey in the fridge a few days before Thanksgiving. Thaw 12-pound (190-ounce) turkeys two days in advance. Thaw turkeys larger than 12 pounds three days in advance.[5]
- Make the cranberry sauce. Place of cranberries in pot. Add of sugar and of balsamic vinegar to the pot. Place the pot on the stove. Set the stove to medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, about eight minutes. Stir of nutmeg, cinnamon, cumin, and pepper into the mixture.[6]
- Place the heat on low to simmer the sauce. Stir the sauce until a thick mixture forms. Add salt to taste.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Pour the cranberry sauce in a plastic container and let it cool, about ten minutes.
- Once the sauce has cooled, place it in the fridge. Serve cool.
- Make the mashed potatoes. Wash, peel, and chop 8 to 10 potatoes. In a large pot, bring four quarts of water to a boil, about 10 minutes. Place of salt in the water. Place the chopped potatoes in the water. Boil them until soft. Remove the pot from the heat and drain the water. Let the potatoes cool for three minutes. After three minutes, use a fork or a masher to mash the potatoes. Finish the potatoes by:
- Adding of milk, butter, black pepper, and salt to taste. Mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Place the mashed potatoes in a serving dish that you can reheat. Then place it in the fridge.
- Re-heat the mashed potatoes in a oven one hour before the meal.
- Prepare a bread and celery stuffing. Preheat your oven to . Cut a stale loaf of white or wheat bread into cubes. Place a large pot on the stove. Set the heat to medium. Melt of butter in the pot. Add one chopped onion and four stalks of chopped celery to the pot. Cook the onion and celery until soft, about five to eight minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.[7]
- Stir in the cubes of bread until evenly coated.
- Stir of chicken broth into the mixture. Mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Place the ingredients in a greased casserole dish. Place the dish in the oven and cook the stuffing for 30 to 40 minutes.
- Re-heat the stuffing in a oven one hour before the meal.
- Roast the turkey on Thanksgiving morning. Preheat your oven to . Place the turkey in a roasting pan. In a separate bowl combine of olive oil, of garlic powder, of dried basil, a of sage and salt, and of black pepper. Baste the outside of the turkey with the mixture. Pour of water into the bottom of the roasting pan.[8]
- Secure the roasting pan with a lid or two sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the roasting pan in the oven.
- Bake the turkey for three and a half hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh is .
- Once the turkey is done, remove it from the oven. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving.
- Cook any additional side dishes while the turkey is cooking. Green beans, dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, and corn are typical side dishes served with the turkey. You can also serve ham with the turkey as well.[9]
- Bake a ham. Preheat your oven to . Place the ham cut side down in a baking pan. Cover the ham with a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the ham in the oven. Make the glaze once you put the ham in the oven. Baste the ham with the glaze every 20 minutes. During the last five minutes, remove the foil to caramelize the glaze.[10]
- To make a glaze combine of brown sugar and mango chutney, three cloves of minced garlic, of orange zest, of orange juice, and of dijon mustard to make a glaze. Mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Bake a fully-cooked ham for 10 minutes per pound. Bake a partially cooked ham for 20 minutes per pound.
- Order fresh pies for Thanksgiving Day. Pumpkin, apple, pecan, and cherry pies are typical pies served as desserts on Thanksgiving. Pick up your pies one to two days before the big day. On Thanksgiving Day, warm the pies up per the instructions on the box.[11]
- Alternatively, make a pumpkin pie or a pecan pie from scratch.
- Thanksgiving-themed cookies and candies are also common desserts served on Thanksgiving.
- Ask for thanks before the meal. Before the meal is served, friends and family members typically take turns saying what they are thankful for. This is a time to reflect on all the things you are grateful for, including your family, job, coworkers, and other people and things.[12]
- You could also play the A to Z gratitude game. Have everyone sit together so that they can hear and see one another. Going around the group of family and friends, have each person say what they're grateful for, according to the letter of the alphabet. For example, the first person would say, "I am thankful for Aunt Sharon's kindness."
EditDecorating the Tables - Cover the tables with tablecloths. Choose a thanksgiving-themed or fall-themed tablecloth. Set the table with the plates and silverware as well.[13]
- You can purchase thanksgiving-themed napkins from your local grocery store or crafts store as well.
- Decorate the table with a centerpiece. You can purchase thanksgiving-themed centerpieces from your local crafts store. You could also use a bouquet of autumn flowers, candles, or a cornucopia as a centerpiece.[14]
- Use foldout tables for extra seating. If you do not have enough room at your dining room table, then set up a separate table or two in your living room or den. Seat children at this table, or divide your guests up into groups and seat them at the other tables.[15]
- Alternatively, use a coffee table as a table for children. Place pillows around the table for the children to sit on.
EditEntertaining Family and Friends - Watch the Thanksgiving Day parade. The Thanksgiving Day parade starts at 9 a.m. Eastern Time in New York City. It lasts until 11 a.m. Local news stations like CBS, ABC, and NBC typically broadcast the parade. Watch the parade with your friends, children, and family members.[16]
- You can watch the parade on Verizon's YouTube channel as well.
- Put on a football game. Watching football on Thanksgiving is a favorite American pastime. Games are typically played throughout day on local TV channels such as ABC, NBC, and CBS.[17]
- Alternatively, organize a backyard football game with family, friends, and neighbors before the big meal.
- Volunteer at a local shelter. Because Thanksgiving is a day of giving and gratitude, many people choose to volunteer an hour or so of their time at local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, or religious institutions. Contact a local shelter in your area to find out what time the festivities will take place.[18]
- If you don't have time to volunteer, then donate clothes or canned goods to your local shelter.
- Invite your friends and family members to volunteer with you.
- Play games. Games like Monopoly, Life, Pictionary, and Clue are a great way to spend some quality time with friends and family members. Card and dice games like Yahtzee are also popular.[19]
- Take a nap or a walk after the meal. Because the Thanksgiving meal is such a big meal, it may leave you and your guests feeling tired. It is ok and even customary to sit down and doze off on the couch for 30 minutes after the big meal. Others may choose to take a walk around the neighborhood instead.[20]
- Know that the traditional dinner of turkey does not define what Thanksgiving really is. You could have a Thanksgiving dinner with ham instead of turkey, and it wouldn't change the meaning at all!
- It is okay to buy some prepared food items for the meal. Not everyone has the time or inclination to prepare everything from scratch.
- Choose simple Thanksgiving recipes if this is your first time preparing the Thanksgiving holiday meal.
- If you are hosting guests, ensure that all health and dietary needs are met for the meal. Take into consideration guests with certain food allergies or dietary restrictions. For example, provide a tofu turkey for your vegetarian guests.
- If you have little kids, make sure you can see them at all times. Be sure that they didn't wander into the kitchen, as that could be dangerous.
- You can bake the traditional pumpkin pie, or you can use cherry pie, french silk... Any kind will do!
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