Q: Just because a piece of furniture looks ugly, doesn't mean it has to go! With a little work, you can give most pieces an amazing makeover, especially if they're solid wood or metal.   Solid wood is better quality than particle board or MDF. Check to make sure all pieces are secure and do not wobble. If you find something that is broken, look to see if it could be repaired. Drawers and doors should open and close nicely. Look for joints that are tight and secured with dowels or dovetails. Be wary of joints that are only nailed or glued together. Metal pieces should be held together by neat, consistent welds that are free from cracks. Painting is a relatively quick and easy way to completely change the look of your furniture and accessories.  If you want a glossy finish, consider using  spray paint. Make sure you choose a paint that is appropriate for the material you are painting, and always use spray paint an area that is thoroughly protected and ventilated, preferably outside. If you want a more antiqued or distressed look, try using chalk paint. You can also find specialty paints that have metallic or glittery finishes. Look around at your local home improvement store for inspiration. Remember that in addition to furniture, you can paint things like picture frames, lamps, mirrors, and trash cans. The possibilities are endless! Fabric can be painted too! If you have some boring white curtains or pillow cases, you can use a  stencil to paint on a fun and colorful design. Be sure to use paint that is appropriate for fabric. You can turn almost anything, from a piece of furniture to a wall, into a chalkboard with some simple and inexpensive chalkboard paint. Be creative and make a custom message board for your room. If your piece of furniture doesn't need an entire coat of paint, you can make some small changes that will have a big impact.  Try stenciling a design on the fronts of your dresser drawers or decoupaging them with colorful fabric. You can also use temporary wallpaper if you don't want to make a big commitment.  Change out the knobs on your dresser and nightstand for an instant makeover with almost no work. Use Mod Podge and your favorite fabric or patterned paper to give flat surfaces, like tabletops, a completely unique look. If your bed doesn't have a headboard, consider making one yourself to make your bed the focal point of your room.  Hang a tapestry or another large item above your bed to mimic the look of a headboard.   Make your own upholstered headboard by wrapping a wood pattern in batting and fabric, stapling it in the back. Hang an old door horizontally on the wall above your bed. You can paint it any color you like. These are easy projects, and you can even make them with fabric you already have, like a sheet.  These projects require a few simple, straight stitches. If you really hate sewing, you can even use iron-on tape for your seams and hems. You can create a new cover to put over an old pillow, or, if you don't have an old pillow, simply fill the new pillow with polyester fluff from your local fabric store.   Sewing in a zipper is the hardest part of making a pillow, but this is only necessary if you need to be able to wash the cover. To keep duvet covers closed, you can use buttons, snaps, or even ribbons. If you don't like the fabric on a chair or sofa, you might want to invest in a  slipcover, which is still much less expensive than buying a new piece of furniture. You can also  make one yourself, but you will need to have some sewing skills. If you have lamps and ceiling fixtures that are a little too boring, there are lots of ways to make them more interesting. Depending on the materials, you could paint the base or the shade, embellish the shade with garland or beads, or even create a new shade with fabric. You can also add creative lighting to your room with strings of holiday lights.
A: Recognize good quality furniture. Paint your items. Embellish your items. Create a headboard. Make  curtains,  duvet covers, and  pillows. Jazz up your lighting.

Q: Well, technically, you start with your hands clasped in front of your chest. But that's not very active, so let's go straight to the high V or your hands above your head. You have to start up top so you can swing down and build up momentum. High schools will start in a high V, whereas All-Stars tend to start with their hands clasped above them, arms up straight slightly in front of their heads. If first position was your arms up in a high V or vertical clasp, second position is your knees slightly bent, weight coming onto the balls of your feet, and your hands in fists down in front of your knees ready to swing up. We will refer to this as "athletic" position from here on out. If you're moving from a high V to this position, make sure to swing your arms in and down, not out and down. If you're moving from a vertical clasp, just swing your arms straight down. Let's cover the arms of the actual jump first. As you come out of athletic position, your arms should move to a firm "T," a "T" with sharpness. They should form a 90 degree angle with your neck and head. Not lower and not higher.  Some tend to lower their T so their legs look like they're going higher. But your legs won't end up looking higher – your form will just look sloppy. When you hit your T, snap to it. A good cheerleader or toe touch-er has energy behind even the smallest of movements, from head to toe.
A: Start with a high V or your hands clasped above your head. Come down to an athletic position, swinging your hands down and bending your knees. Hit a firm "T" with your arms.

Q: Try to remove as much air from the plastic bag as possible. Tie a knot right above the bath bomb and use scissors to cut off the excess part of the bag. Alternatively, you can wrap each half in plastic wrap. Don’t put more than one bath bomb half in a plastic bag. Not only will they be more likely to bump against each other and break down, but you’ll have to cut open the bag to get one half of the bath bomb, then reseal the bag with other half. Put your individually-wrapped bath bombs in a plastic air-tight container or a mason jar with a lid. Store them in a bathroom cabinet or closet to keep them away from heat, light, and moisture. Though they may be gorgeous and look like works of art, you shouldn’t display your bath bombs, even if they are in plastic bags. Putting them on display can lead to oxidation, which makes the fizzy bath bombs lose their fizzing ability when added to water.
A: Put one half of the bath bomb in a sandwich bag. Store them individually. Store in a cool, dark place. Don’t display your bath bombs.

Q: Babies do sleep a lot but not for very long periods of time. Each child will have it’s own natural sleep rhythm which you will learn with time. Try to accommodate it and plan your own sleep schedule as much as you can. Your baby may need help falling asleep, so know some basic ways to help your baby. You can hold your baby in your arms or up on your shoulder and either walk with them or rock them in a chair. Babies respond well to repetitive sounds, so make cooing sounds or you can sing them a lullaby. Swaddling is a method of wrapping up a baby in a blanket so that they don’t move. While it might seem strange to an adult, it is extremely comforting for a baby as it makes them feel secure. It will also keep them from surprising themselves if they move in their sleep. Watch the video below to learn how to swaddle your baby. SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is a very mysterious condition which you will want to protect against. No one particularly understands what causes it and some question whether it exists at all, but there are a few practices which seem to be related to the deaths. Follow these simple rules and your baby should be fine:  Protect your baby by always putting them to sleep on their back Don’t put a pacifier into your baby’s mouth Use a firm mattress in your baby’s crib Remove soft or fluffy bedding and stuffed animals
A:
Be aware of when your baby sleeps. Know how to put your baby to sleep. Understand swaddling. Avoiding SIDS.