Aggregates are additives that make up most of a concrete mix. Fine aggregates are typically sand or crushed stone. This type of mix is best for pouring a very thin coat of concrete, such as when topping off or leveling out an existing slab. The aggregate in a concrete mix is listed on the label. You can also see it when you open the bag. Fine concrete looks smooth or has very small stones. Coarse concrete has gravel or larger stones as an additive. This type of concrete is stronger but less dense, so you can safely pour a large slab onto existing concrete. It is a good option if you need to fill a large area with something thick that will last a long time. Larger aggregates cannot be used to make thin coats, so make sure you get the type of concrete mix best suited for your project. Concrete can splash up as you mix and pour it, and that isn’t anything you want in your eyes. Wear protective goggles or safety glasses with polycarbonate lenses at all times. Also consider wearing work gloves and long-sleeved clothing to protect your skin from concrete splatter. The scratch coat is a layer of wet concrete mixed to a liquid consistency similar to paint. You will need a big plastic mixing bucket. Combine the concrete in a ratio of about 1 part water to 7 parts concrete, then mix it with a wooden mixing stick or electric paddle mixer until it reaches a uniform liquid consistency.  Use the same concrete you plan on using for the final layer. Have the area estimate available for the space you wish to cover, then follow the manufacturer’s instructions for an estimate on how much to mix. Less is usually more with the scratch coat. Remember that is liquid, so it will spread out over the existing slab. Dump it all out onto the existing concrete, then begin spreading it around using a hand trowel or paver. Press down hard on the concrete to work the liquid mix into any cracks as you smooth out the scratch coat layer. The layer of wet concrete doesn’t need to be thick. A layer about 1⁄8 in (0.32 cm) thick, about the thickness of a credit card, is enough.  You can also use a rag or a gloved hand to spread the scratch coat. This can work well when priming small areas. The wet mix is there to help the new concrete bond to the old concrete, so you don’t need a lot of it.

Summary: Purchase concrete with a fine aggregate for small repairs. Choose a coarse aggregate concrete when pouring thicker slabs. Wear eye goggles to protect yourself while mixing concrete. Mix up a scratch coat consisting of concrete and water. Spread the liquid mix over the existing concrete.


Your sparse-looking brows may actually be full of little white baby hairs, and tinting them a darker shade will reveal a bolder, thicker eyebrow.  Tinting lasts between three and five weeks.  Tinting can easily go wrong if the shade is too dark, the chemicals too harsh, or you stain your skin, so make sure you go to a professional with a good reputation. Visit a brow bar or salon for this procedure, where they will glue individual synthetic or natural hairs to your brow hair, creating the (temporary) full brow of your dreams. Unlike eyelash extensions, brow extensions will not damage your existing hair as they fall off, so they won't interrupt your progress if you're growing yours out.  If you don't have eyebrows, the extensions can be glued directly to your skin, but they will only last a few days.  Extensions only last a few weeks at the most, and touching, washing, or exercising can make them fall off even faster. If your eyebrow hair will no longer grow, a plastic surgeon can carefully design a brow that best fits your face and build it using your own hair. The finished look should be natural, with the new hair blending into your brow.  A brow transplant is irreversible, so make sure you are thinking about what looks best on you, not what is most popular right now.  Do some research and find a reputable surgeon who has experience with the procedure. Ask to see before and after pictures from their other clients.

Summary: Get your brows tinted. Get extensions for special occasions. Talk to a plastic surgeon about a brow transplant.


It's important in the aftermath of a romantic breakup to keep up the self-care. You may feel too sad or tired to eat right, sleep well, and exercise, but all of these things will help you to recover as quickly as possible. Things like exercise will also give your brain the extra positivity it needs to get through this rough patch, since it produces the happiness chemical serotonin. Enlist the help of friends if you're having a hard time with self-care. Make dinner with people you're close to or go to the gym with someone who is into exercising consistently. Distracting yourself from your pain may seem like a good idea in the moment, but it will only increase the amount of time it takes you to process the breakup. This can make it more difficult not to bring your residual feelings into new relationships and other areas of your life.  Talking it out with a friend can give you a good way of reflecting on your feelings. Make sure it's someone you trust to be sensitive with your emotions and really listen to what you are saying. Avoid using alcohol or other substances to keep your feelings away. In the long run this will only hurt you. Focus on the positive aspects of the breakup. Writing will help you organize your thoughts and begin to process all of the difficult emotions that go along with a breakup. Specifically writing about what went right in the breakup is better for you than just venting.  Was he honest and straightforward when he told you he was into someone else? Did he let you know what was going on before it got serious with the new person? It's important to give yourself time to heal. Straining yourself too hard, like jumping straight into a new relationship, overworking yourself, or just pushing yourself to move on can make the situation worse. Emotional injuries, like physical injuries, require time to fully heal. Give yourself the space to rest and recover. Don't be afraid to say no if friends want you to go out and you don't feel like it. True friends will understand that you need time before you can return to your normal way of being. It's easy in our culture to buy into the idea of there being only one person for you, but in reality there are a lot of people in the world that you are compatible with. Avoid telling yourself stories about how this person was the only one for you, or that you'll never find anyone like him. In all likelihood you will find someone else, and he might be even better than this guy. You may eventually find an amazing fit with someone, but when that happens then neither of you will want to break up.
Summary: Take care of your body. Face what you are feeling. Write about your experience. Give yourself time. Avoid the one true soul-mate myth.