INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Consider bringing some party food with you to the sleepover. This could include food items like potato chips, candy, cupcakes, fresh fruit, or even a few pizzas.  Always bring enough to share with everyone at the sleepover. Ask the host parents ahead of time to see if it’s okay for you to bring some snacks to share. You might want to think about bringing things that you and the other kids can play with during the sleepover. Consider bringing a game console and some fun electronic games, some board games, or even some kind of craft activity.  Bring an iPod or other MP3 player to play music during the sleepover. If you think you might have trouble sleeping or being away from home, consider bringing your favorite teddy bear or another comfort toy to sleep with. Sleepovers can be so much fun and a great way to make memories. To preserve those memories, consider bringing a camera – if your parents say it’s okay. Many cell phones have cameras on them as well. If you have a cell phone with a camera, it might be better to leave the camera at home to reduce the risk of losing a valuable electronic device. Ask the host about things you are unsure about bringing – like games or food. Remember that this is someone else’s house and you need to be respectful about what you bring over.  Other parents may have different house rules than your parents, so you don’t want to accidentally bring something the host wouldn’t like. For example, some parents don’t allow candy in their house. It might be disrespectful to bring candy over for a sleepover if the host parents have prohibited candy in their home.

SUMMARY: Pack some snacks. Bring some games and toys. Take a camera to record memories. Ask for permission to bring certain extras.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can buy both front and back molds or simply the front, for a faster craft project.  Put the egg whites into the bowl. Test the sugar mixture with your hands. If you can press it in you hands and the fingerprints remain, it is ready. If it does not hold together, try mixing it better first, then add extra egg whites 1/4 at a time. Make sure it is pressed very firmly or it will crumble later on. Use a straight edge to smooth the back of the skull mold. Remove excess sugar. Removing a circle in the middle of the skull will make it lighter and dry faster. Repeat with remaining skulls.  Allow them approximately 1 week to cure before the Day of the Dead. Combine 2 large egg whites with 3 cups (330g) of powdered sugar using a hand mixer.   Separate and color your royal icing with food coloring. Decorate them according to your preference.

SUMMARY: Buy your sugar skull molds. Pour 6 cups of granulated sugar into a bowl. Separate 2 eggs from their egg whites. Mix the recipe together with your hands. Press the sugar into the skull mold. Scoop out a rounded section with a spoon. Flip your skulls gently onto a piece of cardboard. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). Place your cardboard on the rack inside the oven for 30 minutes. Make your royal icing.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Coal and natural gas are the most common sources of energy that gets turned into electricity. The burning of these substances is a major factor in world air pollution. Reducing your reliance on electricity is a great way to play a part in saving the planet. Here's what you can do:  Use solar power for home and water heating. Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work. If you have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused rooms. Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120. Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods. Turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time. Set your refrigerator temperature at 36 to 38 and your freezer at 0 to 5 . When using an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it reduces oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door. Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses less energy. Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot. Turn off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy. Plant trees to shade your home. Replace old windows with energy-efficient ones. Keep your thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter when you are away. Insulate your home as best as you can. Another big source of air pollution that has led to global warming is emissions from cars, trucks, planes and other vehicles. The manufacture of the vehicles, the gas needed to run them, the chemicals they burn, and the production of roads all play a part. If you can drive and fly less often, you'll be doing a lot to help save the planet.  Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible. Find bike routes in your town and use them! Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work if biking or walking isn't an option. Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency. Maintain your vehicle properly. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions. Buying local helps combat air pollution in two ways. You don't have to travel as far to get what you need, and products don't have to travel as far to get to you, either. Making smart choices about where your food, clothes, and other goods come from can help make a dent in air pollution.  Shop at farmer's markets and buy food that was produced as close to your home as possible. When you're online shopping, pay attention to how far the items you order will travel before they arrive. Try to find items that won't have to travel long distances. Pay attention to where your clothes, electronics, home goods, and other possessions were made. As much as possible, buy items that were made in your region. Industrial farming practices are not only harmful to individual animals, but they're also unsafe for the planet itself. Factory farming produces a lot of air and water pollution. You can address this issue in a personal way by doing the following:  Eat more vegetables. This simple change is a way of opting out of the factory farming industry. Question where your meat comes from.  Learn to hunt responsibly for a more natural source of animal protein. Buy only locally-sourced meat from a small farm. Avoid eating beef. Cows emit lots of methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas, and other pollutants. Try to reduce your beef intake and opt for other types of meat. Identify local groups working to combat air pollution, and find a way to get involved. By educating yourself and others about the problem, you can have a greater impact than you'd have by simply making lifestyle changes.  Join a group that plants trees to help clean the air. Become a bike activist. Work to have safe paths built in your city. Contact your local representatives to speak up about issues particular to your region. If there's a factory spewing pollutants into the air, for example, get politically active to put a stop to it.

SUMMARY: Use less electricity. Drive and fly less often. Buy local goods. Eat vegetables and locally-sourced meat. Become an air pollution activist.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Steam cleaning solutions can be expensive and are typically made of harsh chemicals.  Fill the steam cleaner's tank with full-strength vinegar. If the steam cleaner has a dedicated tank for the cleaning solution, use full-strength vinegar instead of the commercial steam cleaning solution. Substitute vinegar for the steam cleaning solution. If the cleanser is combined with hot water in a single tank in the steam cleaner, use vinegar instead of the cleanser. Whatever the amount of cleanser recommended, substitute the same amount of vinegar. If the manual indicates 4 ounces (113.4 g) of cleaning solution, use 4 ounces (113.4 g) of vinegar. Operate the steam cleaning machine as directed. The rug (and room) may smell like vinegar during cleaning. Once the rug is dry, the smell will dissipate.

SUMMARY:
Replace steam cleaning solutions with vinegar. Clean the carpet with the steam cleaning machine.