Once you finish mopping the floor with the vinegar solution, you will need to rinse the floor with clean water. Dump the vinegar solution down a drain. Fill the bucket with fresh, hot water. If there are any stains on the floor, then try mixing a small amount of vinegar into some baking soda to dorm a paste, such as 1 part vinegar to 3 parts baking soda. Apply the paste to the stain with a scrub brush or sponge. Then use a wet paper towel to remove the paste.

Summary: Fill the bucket with clean water. Create a vinegar and baking soda paste to work out tough stains.


Sometimes, as a busy parent, it will be nearly impossible for you to make healthy snacks at home.  If you must offer store-bought snacks, choose the healthiest options possible. Chips, candy, and soft drinks are an easy option when your teenager is hungry.  If they are in the house, a teenager will eat them! Though you likely can’t prevent your teen from choosing these options at school or at the movies with their friends, you can provide better options at home. These convenient, portable snacks are often packed with sugar and fat. Most have added some vitamins and nutrients, but the amount of artificial flavorings and chemicals they contain usually outweigh the benefits. These are every bit as convenient as a power bar, but offer a good variety of whole grains, nuts, and fruit. You can also pick up individual trail mix packets with similar ingredients. Greek yogurt offers a lot of protein, but any low-fat yogurt is a good option for teens on the go. You can get these salted or unsalted, in bulk or individually wrapped. Be careful about portion control though, as nuts are high in calories. These are a great option for a teen who tends to grab chips and dip, but they offer much more nutritional value than potato chips. You can also rotate in healthy dip options, such as hummus. These packs come in every variety, from sweet treats to nuts to crackers.  Some offer less nutritional value than others, but they are all portable and very limited in calories. Convenience is key here. Bananas, apples, pears, and oranges are very portable and easy to eat.  If you want your teen to grab celery and carrots and don’t have time to cut them up yourself, you may have to opt for the more expensive pre-cut veggies.

Summary: Banish junk food. Avoid “power” bars. Try trail mix bars. Pick up individual yogurts. Grab mixed nuts. Stock up on multigrain crackers and pita chips. Look for 100-calorie packs. Buy convenient fruits and vegetables.


The entry fee can be as much as $1,000, and you need a dress which can cost upwards of $5,000. Hair and make-up can cost $400 per hour.  You will also need money to cover your travel costs. Don't use makeup products from discount stores. Instead, buy quality makeup from department stores and specialty shops. You will need an evening gown, a bathing suit and an outfit to wear to the preliminary interviews. You will also need shoes to accompany each outfit.  For the swimming suit, choose a solid color or black. One piece or two piece are both acceptable. Wear at the most four-inch heels that match your swimsuit. For the evening gown, wear something that reflects your personality and fits you very well. While you might be tempted to buy online, it's better to purchase a gown you've tried on first.  For the interview, wear a neutral skirt suit or a sheath dress in a color that goes well with your skin tone. Wear matching heels.

Summary: Save for wardrobe, entry fee and travel. Buy high-quality makeup. Purchase your wardrobe.


The mucous in a woman’s cervix has a different consistency depending on where she is in her cycle. Watching for these changes in your cervical mucous consistency can help you predict at which point in your menstrual cycle you’re ovulating or even give your doctor important clues about your cycle and reproductive health. Make sure to note the changes on your calendar to more effectively predict when you might ovulate so that you can promote or prevent pregnancy.  Examine any cervical mucous in your underpants or by inserting your fingers in your vagina. Remember that you aren’t doing anything wrong and have nothing about which to be ashamed. Look at the color and consistently of the mucous. You may also want to note if there is any odor, which can signal an infection. If you are about to ovulate, you will have more cervical mucous and it will be thin and slippery. This usually happens about 5 to 8 days after your period. Be aware that you are most fertile during this time and should either have sex or use protection if you’re trying to avoid a pregnancy. If you’re done ovulating, you will have less cervical mucous and it will be thicker and less noticeable. This cycle of cervical mucous usually lasts for two weeks Most women’s menstrual cycles average a standard time of between 26 and 32 days. Using the Standard Days Method by drawing upon the information on your calendar can help you predict when you’ll ovulate. Remember that you need to be very diligent in recording your cycle to use this method. Online tools and apps may also predict or figure out the most likely days you’re ovulating as a part of tracking your cycle. You will likely ovulate between day 8 and day 19 of your menstrual cycle. The first day of your period marks the first day of your cycle. If you’re trying to get pregnant, consider having sex more often during these days. If not, use extra protection or avoid sex during your most fertile period. A woman’s temperature while resting, or basal body temperature, will generally increase a bit when she ovulates. Taking your temperature every day as a part of your menstrual calendar can alert you to when you are ovulating. Record your basal body temperature in your calendar or online app every day. Look for your basal temperature to increase of 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit, a factor to which many apps will alert you. If your temperature seems slightly high, this could mean you’re ovulating. You may want to have intercourse more often when your temperature rises if you’re trying to get pregnant. If you’re trying to prevent pregnancy, consider abstaining or using extra protection. Depending on the type of calendar you are using to track your cycle, you may be able to figure out ovulation simply by looking at an app on your device. In some cases, the app might even alert you to days that you are ovulating. Be aware that you can get apps specifically for ovulation in addition to your menstrual calendar. Consider getting an app that integrates both a menstrual and ovulation calendar. No matter what way you are tracking your ovulation, make sure to record your results every day on your menstrual calendar. This can help you anticipate when you should have sex, abstain from it, or just use more protection. It may also alert you to potential issues you may be having with ovulation. If this is the case, make sure to consult your doctor. Doctors have patients track their cycles for different reasons such as that they’re trying to get pregnant, figure out cycle length and symptoms, or even detect problems. If you have any concerns while tracking your cycle, schedule an appointment with your gynecologist. He or she may suggest tracking other symptoms or elements of your cycle and then sending them on a regular basis to him or her. These can cue your doctor into potential problems or irregularities and help him or her formulate a treatment plan for them. Remember that it’s important to be as honest as possible when keeping your calendar and reporting to your doctor. You don’t have anything about which to be embarrassed and even the most seemingly irrelevant information may be important to your doctor.
Summary: Observe changes in cervical mucous. Follow the Standard Days method. Measure your basal body temperature. Consult your app. Remember to record results. Talk to your doctor.