Take off any upholstery or cushions before washing the  wood with soapy water. Make sure that your furniture is in good condition before you go through the effort of protecting it, or else you may find that your efforts were wasted in light of internal rot and decay. Take your scrub brush and soak it in a water and dishwasher detergent solution. Scrub the wood going in the direction of the grain. Let the wood dry thoroughly, and sand and rough spots going in the direction of the wood. Apply a furniture protector using a paint brush to every area of the frame. Protection against the elements is important if you want to prolong the life of your furniture. Paint is the best way to protect wooden furniture from the elements because the pigments in paint offer a good degree of protection against the sun's UV radiation. Some forms of paint can even protect against heat and water. Choose an oil paint with a spray-on sealer.  Paint on outdoor furniture tends to chip and peel when used regularly, so you will need to reapply the paint once or twice every year. Another method is to sand it, then apply an oil or stain to protect the wood. This will prolong the aesthetic beauty of your furniture, especially if you have a lot of wooden furniture. Water repellents help prevent water from soaking into your furniture, and they also quicken the evaporation of moisture from within the wood. This reduces the chance that your furniture will warp, weaken, or rot.  Apply a sealer coat of polyurethane after using a stain or water repellant. This will make it last longer. Keep in mind that stain and water repellents typically need to be reapplied every 2 to 3 years for maximum protection. When choosing a repellent, avoid repellents with high oil percentages. High amounts of oil will promote the sticking of particles to your furniture, which can detract from their appearance.
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One-sentence summary -- Remove any padding. Clean your wood furniture. Protect the frames of the furniture. Paint the wood. Apply a stain or water repellent.


Steaming is among the best ways to cook vegetables while preserving as many vitamins and nutrients as possible. You can steam just about any vegetable, and all you need is a steamer or steamer basket that fits in a saucepan.  Wash your vegetables by rubbing them under clean water. Scrub tougher vegetables, like carrots, with a vegetable brush. Cut off any stems, and peel vegetables with thick or inedible skins, such as onion. Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Some of the best vegetables to cook by steaming include carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, spinach, Brussel sprouts, potatoes, kale, turnip, zucchini, and bok choy. If you're using a special steaming device, add enough water to reach the fill line on the steamer. If you're using a saucepan with a steamer basket, add about an inch (2.5 cm) of water to the bottom of a large saucepan. If you don’t have a steamer basket, use a heat-proof colander instead. Place your vegetables into the steamer basket, and place the basket into the steamer or the saucepan. Put on the lid, as this will help keep the steam in. When you put the steamer basket into the saucepan, make sure the vegetables aren't touching the water directly. If they are, pour out some of the water. Heat your saucepan over medium heat or turn on your steamer. As the water boils, the steam will cook and soften the vegetables. Cooking time depends on personal preference and the type of vegetable. You can check if the vegetables are done by piercing them with a fork. If the fork goes in easily and without resistance, the vegetables are done.  For smaller or crunchier vegetables, cook for three to five minutes. This includes celery, greens, peas, and leeks. For denser or softer vegetables, cook for 10 to 20 minutes. This includes Brussel sprouts, beans, broccoli, and potatoes. For large and very dense vegetables, cook for 25 to 40 minutes. This includes artichokes and beets. When the vegetables are cooked to your liking, remove them from the steamer basket and transfer them to a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, fresh or dried herbs and spices, or fresh lemon juice, to taste. Popular herbs for vegetables include:  Thyme Oregano Rosemary Tarragon Lemongrass
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One-sentence summary -- Wash and cut your vegetables. Add the water. Add the vegetables. Heat the water and steam the vegetables. Season before serving.


You will undoubtedly have classmates who aren’t going to prom either. If you have any classmates you’re friends with who happen to also be skipping the event, ask them if they want to hang out on prom night. You’ll feel a lot better knowing that you aren’t alone, and doing something social will keep you from feeling like you’re missing out. Consider throwing your own anti-prom party! Invite a bunch of classmates who aren’t going to prom over for pizza, games, and fun. That way, you can turn missing out into an opportunity to get to know some classmates you aren’t already friends with. If you don’t have any friends that are skipping the dance and you think you’ll just get bummed out being around classmates, ask your family to hang out with you on prom night. Hanging out with your family is not only healthy, but it will keep your mind off of the kids at your school. Besides, your family is probably going to do their best to cheer you up! Play some board games or go out for a fun family dinner! Your parents will appreciate you going out of your way to spend time with them, especially if you’re going away to college in a few months. If being around people sounds like it will bum you out, engage your mind on prom night to stay focused on something else. Watching a movie or reading a book is a great way to fill your time, and missing prom night may be a good opportunity to catch up on a couple of chapters or finally see that movie you wanted to watch. Video games are a great way to distract yourself because they force you to shift your attention towards the game. Get active to keep your body moving and your mind clear. It’s hard to picture everyone else having fun if you’re running around a basketball court or playing some late-night catch and enjoying yourself. If you’re doing something alone, add another layer of distraction by throwing some headphones in. Music will improve your mood while you work out or play. Running and biking are simple activities that you can easily perform at night that don’t require a park.
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One-sentence summary --
Hang out with other students who aren’t going to the dance. Hang out with your family if all your friends are out at prom. Watch a movie, read a book, or play some video games. Get physical by playing some sports or working out.