INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you removed your false acrylic or gel nails yourself, you likely damaged your nails in the process. Rub a nail buffer very gently back and forth across your nails to smoothen out the uneven or peeling sections. This way, your nail plates get evened out and the nail won’t peel any further. Ensure you are very careful when buffing your nails. If you are too firm, you can damage the nail plate further. After you remove your manicure, wait a few weeks before applying polish on top. This gives your nails room to breathe so they can naturally revitalize and heal themselves. If you apply polish to your nails, it may take them longer to grow back out. After your manicure, it is best to keep your nails short. Cut your nails so they come to the tip of your fingers. This way, they are less likely to break during the recovery stage. Your nails are super soft and pliable right after removing a manicure, so you want to protect them as much as possible. It is imperative that you hydrate and moisturize your nails after your manicure removal. You can do this with either cuticle oil or hand cream. Apply either option 2-3 times a day for 2-4 weeks as your nails grow out. Use about 1 drop of oil per nail or a dime-size amount of cream for each hand. Keeping the nails moisturized helps improve their overall appearance, as the damaged cells stick together. Your cuticles protect new nail growth underneath the surface, and removing the cuticle can cause more damage to your nails. Push back on your cuticles with a cuticle pusher, rather than snipping them off with a cuticle cutter. Do this about once a week for best results. Nail strengtheners are polishes specially designed to improve the overall health and hardness of your nails. These work great after removing a manicure, as they replenish the nail bed and nail plate with nutrients. Apply 1-2 coats about 1-3 times a week, or whenever you notice the first layer start to disappear. This is a good idea if you want to apply polish but don’t want to damage your nails anymore. If your nails are severely uneven or cracked even after doing a nail treatment, your best bet is to go to a salon for help. The trained professionals can use a sander to smoothen your nails. You can also get a deep conditioning treatment to revitalize your nails.  If your nail length is damaged but still intact, your nail technician may use silk wraps to help reinforce your nail. These wraps use thin silk fabric wrapped and glued around your nail to provide additional strength. Silk wraps are usually painted over after application. You may not want to go to the salon, as that’s why you removed the manicure set yourself. However, it may be best for the overall health of your nails.

SUMMARY: Buff your nails gently to even out the surface. Avoid wearing nail polish for 2-4 weeks so your nails can heal. Trim your nails 1-2 times a week to keep them short until they recover. Use cuticle oil or hand cream whenever your hands are dry. Avoid cutting your cuticles to prevent further damage. Apply a nail strengthener to support your fingernails as they heal. Go to the salon if your nails are in really rough shape.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It may be difficult to lock down exactly what your dreams are, but you will need to be able to set them in stone in order to devise a plan that helps you achieve them.  Sit down with a pen and paper and make a list of what you want out of life.  Then use that list to create a singular mission statement.  Try to narrow your dreams down to one solid statement that encompasses the change you want to make in your life. Some examples could be: I will become a cartoonist, I will live in California, or I will start a newspaper. Now that you have identified your overarching goal, you need to determine what skills you have that can help you accomplish it, what sacrifices you are willing to make, and how much you may need to risk.  Think about the skills you will need to achieve your dream; do you currently possess them or will you need further training or education? Try to determine a ballpark figure for how much your dream will cost to pursue.  If your dream is to open a business your budget requirements may be much higher than if your dream is to learn to play the guitar. Depending on the scope of your dream, you may be a long way away from being a position to achieve them, but don’t get discouraged; a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. You probably face challenges in your life that can directly affect your ability to pursue your dreams.  Assess those challenges and consider what sacrifices you are willing to make to overcome them.  Money is the most common limitation when it comes to chasing dreams.  You may need to wait for some time in order to Save Money, or you may have things you are willing to sell in pursuit of your goals. Other limitations may include job security, having time, or a lack of skills or training. Make a list of possible solutions for each problem you come up with. This step will provide you with the basic framework of your plan moving forward.  Start by establishing a few broad goals, then identify a few smaller goals within each one.  Some examples could be:  If your dream is to open a restaurant, your first goal could be to learn to cook.  Within that goal, sub-goals may be to attend culinary school, If your dream is to become a musician, your first goal could be to perform a live show, with a sub-goal of purchasing the amp and other equipment necessary for a concert. Now that you have identified your goals and the obstacles you face, it’s time to establish your plan to chase your dreams.  Create a step by step list of what you need to accomplish in order to put yourself in a position to achieve your dreams.  Start with the very first task you will need to complete.  It may be to begin saving enough money for your next step, or it could be to start looking into necessary training or education programs. Use your goals and sub-goals to guide your checklist so that by the time you have it completed, you will have reached your ultimate goal.

SUMMARY: Break your dreams down into an action statement. Assess your current situation. Identify the obstacles preventing you from chasing your dreams. Make a list of goals associated with achieving your dreams. Complete your plan.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Pour the rice into a fine, mesh strainer, then hold the strainer under cool, running water. Gently sift the rice with clean hands so that every grain gets rinsed off. Keep rinsing and sifting the rice until the water runs clear.  You don’t have to dry the rice off, but it would be a good idea to shake it to dislodge any excess water. You can cook however much rice you want, as long as you adjust the ratio of rice-to-water accordingly. If there's a lot of condensation on the lid, take the lid off and place a tea towel over the pot. Put the lid back on the pot, over the towel, and wait 15 to 20 minutes. This prevents water from dripping back onto the rice. You need to let the rice rest, because if you don't, it won't finish cooking evenly; the bottom will be mushy and the top will dry.

SUMMARY:
Rinse 1 cup (225 g) of rice under cool, running water. Take the rice off the burner and let it sit, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes.