Choose a piece of fabric in the base color of the flag you wish to make. If you're making an American flag, for example, you can stick with plain white. To make a large flag, try to use a piece of fabric measuring 5 foot (1.5 m) by 3 foot (0.9 m). If you want a smaller flag, a smaller piece of fabric (or even a pillowcase) will do. It doesn't matter what type of fabric these pieces are, they can be nylon or cotton like the flag, or they can be felt, silk, polyester, velour - whatever you can find around the house! Pieces of old clothing, or old tablecloths are perfect for this. For a DIY flag, the flag handle can be made from whatever you choose - it could be a tree branch or an old broom pole  - as long as it's strong enough and long enough to hold your flag.

Summary: Get a piece of nylon or cotton fabric. Find other pieces of fabric in the colors you need for your flag. Choose a flag handle.


If someone says something that is hurtful, simply ignore it. Do not spend your time dwelling on anything that doesn’t benefit you or help you achieve your goals. It’s a hard lesson for some people, but you have to learn to be okay with people not liking you, making negative comments, and even acting out. Remember that there are some people who dislike Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. This dislike doesn’t take away the fact that they are famous and successful. You can recognize constructive criticism by the balance of positive and negative feedback. Someone may tell you about an area that you need to improve on while also letting you know something you did well.  Feedback that you can actually use will usually come from other singers, your vocal coach, and professionals in the music industry. Be aware that sometimes friends and family can be too nice. They may think you are perfect just the way you are and may not be able to give you real, helpful advice and/or suggestions for improvement. Being rejected is probably one of the most difficult obstacles you will face on your journey. The music industry is extremely competitive and as such, some artists have to get rejected—it’s the nature of the business. Do not let it get you down. Continue to practice patience and perseverance. If you are rejected for a show or during an audition, ask for the reason why. It’s possible that it may not have anything to do with your talent or ability, but rather the look they are aiming for in their show, etc. Understanding why you were turned down is only one part of the process. The next thing you need to do is reflect on the feedback and then take steps to implement it. This will only make you better. If you were told that you weren’t loud enough—sing louder during your practices and training sessions to help strengthen your voice. If you were told that you don’t have a good stage presence—work on your facial expressions and think about incorporating some more movement or adding an instrument while you sing.

Summary: Learn to brush off negative criticism to keep your focus. Accept constructive criticism to make improvements. Keep moving forward if you get rejected. Implement the feedback you receive to help improve yourself.


Heated rice socks are ideal for soothing muscles that are sore or stiff from work, stress, or mild strain. Heat the rice sock to your desired temperature. Feel the bag to ensure there are no hot spots. Lay the sock directly on your sore muscle and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. When you're tired, sick, or sore, joint aches and pains are common. Place a heated rice sock on the affected area, such as around your neck, for 20 to 25 minutes to treat aches and pains. For menstrual cramps, lay down on your back and lay a heated rice sock on your abdomen for 30 minutes. Headaches, migraines, sinus pressure, and other ailments affecting the head and face can sometimes be treated with heating pads. Lay on your back and place a warm rice sock on your forehead or face for relief. Alternatively, you can also lay with your head on the rice sock, as though it were a pillow. Arthritis pain is often helped with heat, and a rice sock is a great way to apply this heat. Warm the rice sock and apply it to aching joints for 20 minutes at a time.

Summary: Treat muscle pain and stress. Provide relief from aches, pains, and cramps. Get relief from a headache. Soothe with arthritis pain.


If you want to keep busy, it may be easier to do so once you get negative feelings out of your head. Get a pen and paper and jot down what you're feeling for a little bit each day. Then, once your feelings are out, you can focus your energy elsewhere.  Make a list of everything he did to disappoint you. For example, write things like, "He never held my hand in public" and "He didn't want to call me his girlfriend." Once you're done, set the list aside and try to focus your energy somewhere else. In the wake of a breakup, you may find yourself constantly thinking about what went wrong and why. It can be helpful to have new goals. This will help you stay busy and avoid thinking about him.  It is important to strike a balance between activity/distraction and rest/reflection. Thinking about it too much can result in depression, but running away from it can keep you from healing. Think about something you always wanted to do. For example, did you always want to take up running? Try developing a workout routine that will teach you to run. People often become obsessive over past lovers. Sometimes, the easiest way to beat one obsession is to replace it with another. Try to stay present instead of lingering over what happened in the past. At any given moment, keep your mind on what you're feeling and experiencing right now.  Try to enjoy the small day to day things. Even something as simple as eating a great lunch should be savored. If you find yourself thinking about your ex, stop and think something like, "That was then. I'm going to focus on what I'm doing and how I'm feeling right now." You can use grounding techniques to get off the hamster wheel of thinking about him and bring you into the present. Look around and name five things you see. Five colors. Five textures. Close your eyes and identify what you hear or smell. Self care is important, especially after someone hurt you. Do not neglect the normal rituals of eating right, exercising, and caring for yourself overall.  Keep up with personal hygiene. Even if you feel like lingering in bed all day, get up, shower, and brush your teeth. Stay on track with your exercise routine as best as you can. If you're feeling really down, reduce your routine. For example, go for a brisk walk instead of a jog. Eat right. Binging on junk food may be tempting when you're feeling down, but it's unlikely to make you feel better.
Summary: Write out your feelings. Give yourself something to do. Keep your mind in the present. Take care of yourself.