INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The first step to ditching a manipulative boyfriend is to step away from denial. If you're still hesitating at all, strive to see the relationship for what it is accurately. Think about how you feel around your boyfriend. If he's manipulating you, you're likely drained or exhausted in his presence. You probably feel like you cannot trust him. You likely often catch him lying or stretching the truth. You want to make sure you don't leave things ambiguous. A manipulative person is likely to try to find a way back into your life, so make it very clear the relationship is over. Find a time when you're both free to have a sit down talk about why things are ending.  Do not beat around the bush. Get right to the point during the talk. Say something like, "I wanted to talk to you because I don't want to see you anymore. This isn't working and I'm not happy." With a manipulative person, it may not be worth it to get into the nitty gritty details. If your boyfriend is manipulative by nature, he may try to deny what you're saying. Try to keep things simple. Say something like, "I don't feel comfortable in the relationship anymore and I think we would both be better off with someone else." Even if you truly believe your boyfriend is manipulative, finger-pointing may not be worth the trouble. Your boyfriend is unlikely to accept blame for his behavior if he has not done so in the past, and you don't want the situation to turn into an argument.  Avoid bringing up past hurt feelings or arguments. This will only fuel feelings of negativity on both sides, leading to a needlessly aggressive breakup. If your boyfriend asks questions about your decision, firmly restate that you simply don't feel the relationship is working for you anymore. A manipulative person is likely to try to get you back under their influence as soon as they can. A manipulative boyfriend will show off his softer side when he realizes you're pulling away. Your boyfriend may try to get you back on his good side through uncharacteristically kind gestures if you keep up contact.  Do not text or call your ex. Try not to engage with him on social media. If necessary, delete him on social media outlets and block his number. If you're in a situation where you have to see your ex, keep conversation cordial but do not engage more than you have to. If you, say, work with your ex, be polite at business meetings and offer a friendly "Hello" in the morning, but do not engage in small talk during downtime at the office.

SUMMARY: Accept the relationship for what it is. Be direct. Try to avoid direct blame. Cut off contact right away.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: To ensure that the martini stays cold, it helps to chill the glass first. Place a martini glass in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours to thoroughly chill it. If you don’t have hours to chill the glass, leave it in the freezer for at least 10 minutes to give it a light chill. Place some fresh lemon juice in a shallow dish and a sprinkling of bar sugar in another. When the glass is chilled, dip the rim in the lemon juice. Next, dim the glass in the sugar to coat the rim with it. Set the glass aside for the moment. Bar sugar is superfine sugar. If you don’t have any on hand, add some regular granulated sugar to a food processor and process it until it’s very fine. Add 2 ounces (60 ml) of blueberry vodka, 1 ounce (30 ml) of fresh blueberry juice, 1 ounce (30 ml) of triple sec, and 1 ounce (30 ml) of lemon lime soda to a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can substitute a mason jar. If you prefer stirred martinis, you can pour the ingredients in a mixing glass. When all of the ingredients are in the cocktail shaker, add enough ice to fill it to two-thirds capacity. Place the lid on the shaker, and shake it for about 15 seconds or until it’s thoroughly mixed.  It’s best to use 2-inch (5-cm) ice cubes or larger. They take longer to break down, so you don’t have to worry about them diluting the martini as you shake it. If you’re stirring the martini rather than shaking it, use a long cocktail spoon to thoroughly mix the ingredients together. Remove the lid from the cocktail shaker, and place a cocktail strainer over the prepared martini glass. Pour the martini through it to keep the ice out of the glass. Stick 2 to 3 fresh blueberries on a cocktail skewer or toothpick, and rest it on the rim of the glass. Serve the martini while it’s still very cold.
Summary: Chill a martini glass. Dip the glass in lemon juice and sugar. Combine the vodka, blueberry juice, triple sec, and soda in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake the mixture well. Strain the martini into the glass. Garnish the martini with blueberries and serve.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Base your prices on your overhead costs, what your competitors charge, and on your location’s median income level. Add up your operating expenses (including products, equipment, mortgage or rent, and utilities), taxes, costs to maintain permits and licenses, and any outstanding loans. Figure out how much money you need to make to cover these costs and maintain a profit margin of at least 10 to 20 percent.  For example, if you want to make $52,000 per year to maintain a 15 percent profit margin, you need to make $1,000 per week. If $80 for a women’s cut and $40 for a men’s cut are reasonable prices in your area, you’ll need to book enough appointments at these rates to meet your weekly quota. While reasonable prices and discounts can build your client base, you need to charge enough to cover your overhead and generate profit. If you undersell your services or offer too many discounts, your profits could take a hit. At a minimum, your services should include cuts, washes, and styling. High end services, such as a $200 precisely sculptured cut, work well in wealthy areas. However, you might want to focus on inexpensive basic cuts in less affluent locations. You might focus on cutting and styling a particular gender or hair type. Factor in your local customers’ needs and, if necessary, broaden your skills so you can build a larger customer base. Hair coloring and extensions can add variety and help you book more appointments. You’ll need to maintain an inventory of all necessary materials, which you can purchase at beauty supply stores. Keep in mind that your local jurisdiction might regulate the use of chemicals or require additional permits. For instance, in the UK, hairdressers must administer a patch allergy test before coloring a client’s hair. Additional services allow clients to patronize your business in between cuts, giving you more opportunities to make money. If necessary, invest in a class to develop these skills yourself or hire staff to help you provide these services. You may start with basic services first, then see if adding other services like facials, make up, and waxing make sense for your home business. They may be good options if you are not getting as many hair clients as you’d like or if you’d like to try out different skills on your clients. Retail is a quick and easy way to generate revenue. A business license allows you to purchase products from wholesalers, which you can then sell at a marked up price. Most retailers use a 50 percent markup. If you purchased a product wholesale at $7, sell it for $14.

SUMMARY:
Price your services competitively. Offer basic services that target your local market. Include coloring and extensions to broaden your clientele. Offer additional services, such as facials, make up styling, and hair removal. Display and sell retail products.