Weed barrier fabric works best if you reinstall it each year, so pick beds where you'll need to pull out plants and add new ones each year. That way, you can just pull up the barrier fabric with the plants and replace it. You obviously want water and nutrients to get through to your plants, so your fabric needs to be permeable. Check the label to see what it says. If you're not sure about your fabric, try pouring water on it. If it drips through, it's permeable. If it doesn't, it's not. Start by tacking down 1 end of the fabric at the edge of the bed with a stake or pin. Going lengthwise, pull the fabric along the whole length of the bed. Stake the end of the fabric at the other end of the bed, going over any barriers like rocks and plants. Don't worry about it overlapping the edge of the bed. Once you've staked down the fabric, go back and cut out around any barriers, such as plants or rocks. You can use regular scissors. Leave about 6 inches (15 cm) of space all around the plants. Also, cut along the edge of the bed, making the fabric align with the bed. If you're installing it in a bed that doesn't have any plants yet, you'll need to cut out spots where you want the plants to go. If your bed is wider than one piece of fabric, lay a piece next to it. Use the same principles of staking and cutting to install the fabric. Drive in stakes around the edges of the barrier, so that it stays in place. Otherwise, the fabric will come up later, and it will look unsightly in your garden bed. Once you have the fabric barrier in place, you can add mulch on top. You only need enough to cover the fabric. You can use natural mulch or gravel, whatever your preference is. However, keep in mind that organic mulch can break down into soil, creating a space for weeds to grow.

Summary: Pick beds that house annuals instead of perennials. Ensure your fabric is permeable. Lay the fabric out in one long piece. Cut out the pieces around barriers. Apply the next piece alongside it. Anchor the edges down. Place mulch on top.


It doesn’t matter if it’s an aluminum or rubber balloon. They’re sold at party centers or you could rent a helium tank to fill up your own balloons for a special event. You’ll know a balloon is filled with helium if it floats. Helium is lighter than air, so it naturally rises. If a balloon stays down near the ground, it doesn’t have helium in it. If you don’t have a safety pin, a pushpin or sewing needle will work just the same. Use the pin to prick the balloon and create a really small hole, and then squeeze the hole shut with your fingers to keep the helium from escaping until you’re ready to inhale. If the balloon is inflated but not knotted, you don’t need to poke a hole in it. You can simply suck the air directly from the opening. Don’t just hold the helium in your mouth—breathe it in like you would a normal breath of air. Just 3-4 seconds should be enough to fill your lungs with helium.  It helps to exhale fully before inhaling so that you can get as much helium into your lungs at once as possible. Helium doesn’t have an odor, taste, or smell, so you really won’t be able to tell that you’re breathing in an element different from oxygen until you try to speak. As soon as you’ve finished inhaling, start talking! The helium-effect will only last for 5 seconds or so, so don’t wait too long. What you say is totally up to you! Have fun and come up with unique phrases or just repeat your name over and over again to hear how you sound. If you suck too much helium at once or for too long of a period of time, you can hurt yourself. So between each inhalation of helium, take a few minutes to breathe normally.

Summary: Get a balloon filled with helium. Poke a small hole near the balloon’s knot with a safety pin. Put your mouth over the hole and inhale while squeezing the balloon. Say something funny to hear how the helium affected your voice. Wait 2-3 minutes between each helium-inhale to rebalance your oxygen.


Rejection is always a possibility when you put yourself out there. You will not like everyone you meet and vice versa.  If rejection happens, have a healthy outlook. A person may decline your invitation for many reasons.  A person may be too busy to hang out or have prior commitments. If someone does reject you, it is not because something is wrong with you.  Maybe the two of you were not a good fit. Be proud of yourself for trying to make friends and try to learn something from the experience. Keep trying to befriend the same acquaintance. Try to make plans with someone a couple of times before giving up.. The only time you should give up sooner is if you're given a clear indication that your goodwill isn't wanted. Keep trying to make friends with other people. Even if one person rejects your friendship completely, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. After you've given up on one person, continue trying to make friends out of your other acquaintances. Making new friends is exciting and scary at the same time. Try different strategies to meet new people. The hardest part is actually going to that first group meeting and getting out of the house. It is okay to be nervous, just push through your feelings and go.. There will be times when you look silly, are embarrassed, or feel awkward.  Some interactions will go really well and others will not.  All of that is perfectly fine, and it is not a big deal. Social media is great in a lot of ways, but oftentimes, it acts as a crutch that prevents people from pushing themselves into real life social situations. When you feel lonely, turn off your computer and head out, call up a friend, or try to meet with an acquaintance. You must get out of the house to meet people and form friendships. Social media websites offer the greatest benefit when they keep you more connected to your friends. If your social media accounts only give you an excuse to avoid real, meaningful contact with people, they're doing more harm than good. Forming friendships is a process. Both you and the other person must put in time and effort. It usually takes 6 to 8 significant interactions for people to come friends, and it may take years before you feel as if you can really confide in another person. Most adults have a fairly small social circle. Even when you've had some success, you may only be close with two or three different friends.  You may have different friends to meet different needs in your life.  Some friends are for regular happy hour or lunches, while you may go hiking with another friend. Working on a couple of close friendships or gathering a huge circle of casual friends are both options. Do whatever makes you happy. Keep in touch with your old friends and continually work on your relationship with any new friends you make. If you have hung out with someone and had a good time, invite them out again and keep in touch.  Some friendships will take more time to grow than others.  Some of your new friendships may start out great and then burn out.  This is completely normal. Try to schedule regular times to meet with your friends. If both of you are able to meet each Friday for an hour, go for it. For friends who are a bit busier, set aside at least one regular time to meet each month, like each second Sunday afternoon or every third Thursday evening.

Summary: Try not to take rejection personally. Be brave. Stop soothing yourself with social media. Maintain a realistic attitude. Value your friends.


Search for "Futurama Head-in-a-Jar Creator," and click on the thumbnail. It's free—all you need is an iPhone. Make them in four species, all in spill-proof jars. Enjoy!
Summary: Go to the Apple App Store. Download the app. Make heads.