INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Keep saving your money, too - this is very important. Make sure this will not expire while in the box. jewellery, an elegant pen, a figurine, etc. Whatever amuses you. Remember to wrap them up and drop it into the shoe box. Make sure your presents won't be old or rotten by next year, though. This means saving sweets for last, ditto for book/music vouchers and anything else with an expiration date. This might be a record of an achievement, a journal entry of how you feel about something momentous or just simple affirmations of what you value about yourself. These notes will be very precious to you when you read them later, so don't be stingy with them!

SUMMARY: Keep on working on those New Year's resolutions. Buy a personal grooming product such as shampoo or soap, and wrap it up and place it in the shoe box. Try buying yourself mini-presents: Add notes whenever it seems appropriate through the year.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you start to apply the fabric to the wood surface, you should make sure it's smooth. Get a 100-200 grit sandpaper and sand back and forth over the area that you want to adhere the fabric to. Creating a smooth surface will eliminate bumps. Remove any dust that was created from sanding your piece of wood by wiping down its surface with a damp rag. Don't use an overly saturated rag because you don't want to get your wood wet. The mod podge won't work as well if you try to apply it to a damp or wet surface. Make sure the wood is dried out before moving on. Lay your fabric over the piece of wood, leaving at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of slack around the fabric. This excess will ensure that you get complete coverage of fabric over the wood.

SUMMARY: Sand the wood with 100-200 grit sandpaper. Wipe down the surface of the wood with a damp rag. Let the wood dry fully before applying adhesive. Measure and cut your fabric to size.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: While lots of relationship literature suggests that you need to come clean for every indiscretion, others feel the decision should depend on the nature of the affair, your commitment to your longterm partner, and a variety of other factors unique to the situation and the relationship itself. Keep in mind, though, that you have an obligation to respect the physical and emotional well-being of your primary partner.  If your relationship is struggling, coming clean can help you improve the foundation of your commitment to one another, rebuilding the trust you might have once had, or it may end that relationship for good. Either way, you'll move away from a problematic relationship. Remember that having an affair is a choice; your primary partner did not cause it. If your relationship is good and you had a solitary indiscretion that was the result of circumstance, and you're committed to it never happening again, it may be more harmful to come clean about an affair. End it, be safe, and commit to your partner. If you're married, most people agree that it's better to tell your spouse about the affair and go about mending the relationship together, but many factors can and should play into this decision. There doesn't need to be an elaborate series of excuses if you're planning on coming clean. Just say, "There's no easy way to say this, but I need you to know that I had an affair. It's over, I deeply regret my behavior, and I want to work on rebuilding our relationship if you will have me. I know I have hurt you and I am truly sorry." Don't overshare. Coming clean about an affair doesn't need to get lurid. Your committed partner doesn't need to know the specifics of what you did with the other person, but you do need to let your partner know if they need to be tested for STDs. While it's not necessary to give a play-by-play of every detail of a sexual encounter, your partner will ask a lot of questions. Answer the questions in a respectful manner and do not lie. Your partner will be deeply hurt and it can take up to two years to heal your relationship. Be patient. Reassure your partner that it was not their fault. You may need to apologize many times. It your partner has episodes of emotional distress, this is common and not abnormal. Offer comfort and love and tell your partner you have recommitted and you're sorry for the pain you have caused.  If you hope to work on your relationship, it's important to talk with your partner about how to repair the relationship. Focus on healing.  It's common that your committed partner will be intensely angry, hurt, but also curious about the person you committed the affair with. Try to keep the conversation focused on your own relationship. If this proves difficult, find a relationship counselor who specializes in helping couples rebuild trust after an affair. Don't make excuses for your behavior. You don't need to make up fake reasons and elaborate excuses for why you did what you do. Give your partner the courtesy of telling the truth, so you can figure out how to move forward. They need you to understand the pain of betrayal. Empathy is healing to both of you. Triggers can sometimes elicit strong emotions and stir up pain for your committed partner. If the affair happened in the marital bed consider the symbolic gesture of replacing the mattress and the bedding that was used. It's very difficult to know how to respond when someone tells you that you've been cheated on. It's important to give your partner some space, avoid forcing them to talk about it if they don't want to, and let them think it over.  Find another place to stay for a few days if you need to, to let your partner think things over in peace. Keep in mind that although your partner is angry and hurt they may still need the comfort of your presence. Alternatively, your partner may want to leave. Let them . Don't force the issue. If your partner doesn't want to talk, you can't make them. It can sometimes take a while to figure out how to feel. It's common for couples who've experienced an affair to talk to an outside party about the situation. Couples therapy can be a good way to get a fresh perspective on the dynamics of the relationship, especially if you're in a long term relationship that's gone bad. If you want things to work, get help. If you've had an affair and hope to mend your relationship, stand in solidarity with your partner. Accept their grief as part of the process. You are helping them to bind their wounds. Do so with compassion and avoid becoming defensive, as this will stall communication and make recovery nearly impossible. Most couples who "do the work" after an affair have an even stronger relationship afterwards due to working in unison to put things back together. If you've had an affair, some couples think that allowing the cheated-on partner a "free card" to cheat once is a quick fix, but this more often makes the problem worse. Now you're dealing with two hurt partners instead of one. This won't fix the relationship.

SUMMARY: Decide whether or not you'll come clean. Keep it simple. Discuss your relationship with your committed partner. Be sensitive to triggers, such as driving by a restaurant where you dined with your affair partner. Let your partner think about it. Consider couples therapy. The road to recovery will take some work.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Some backpacks state that you cannot fully submerge them as colours may bleed or material may be damaged. If you cannot fully submerge your backpack, use a wet cloth or sponge together with cleaner. Dry your backpack upside down away from any direct heat sources. Do not place your backpack in the dryer as it may damage the material. Make sure that your backpack is completely dry before putting it away as mould can grow on moist material.

SUMMARY:
Follow the care instructions if you should submerge your backpack. Dry your backpack.