Problem: Article: If you're able to drive and have access to a vehicle, a road trip can be a wonderful bonding experience between you and your friends. Pack a bag, load up the car, and hit the road together to explore someplace new and exciting.  If you are not yet old enough to drive, ask your parents about the possibility of taking a road trip together. Road trips take some planning (and money), though, so be sure to give your parents a few weeks to make arrangements. Decide in advance where you want to go. Driving aimlessly can be fun, but you can quickly find yourself lost, out of gas, or out of money. Choose whether to stay in hotels or camp. If you do camp, make sure it's feasible to camp in the conditions you'll be entering and plan for the weather wherever you'll be staying (which may mean preparing for snowy winter camping, depending on where you'll be). Make accommodation arrangements. If you'll be staying in hotels/motels, look into where you want to stay and consider booking a reservation. If you'll be camping, scout campgrounds and see if they accept reservations over the phone or online.  Choose a scenic route to get to your destination, if it's possible to do so safely. Know the conditions you'll be facing. Remember that some areas require chains on your tires to drive through icy mountain passes, which may be too dangerous for you to travel. Get your car checked out before the trip to make sure it's in good working condition. Bring whatever supplies you'll need. That includes emergency supplies in case you get stranded: extra blankets, food, water, batteries, a flashlight, road flares, gas money, and an extra charger for your cellphone. Winter break is a great time to reconnect with friends you haven't seen in a while. Whether you've been off at college or simply burdened by your studies in your home town, it can be difficult to spend time with friends while you're in school at any level.  Reach out to friends you don't see very often. Ride bikes together, play in the snow, or simply hang out watching movies or playing video games. Consider taking a trip to visit friends who live a few towns away or a state over. If you're not old enough to drive, ask your parents (and your friends' parents) about the possibility of taking an overnight trip. Have a sleep over with friends you've missed. Catch up on what's new with your friends. Get coffee together or go out for a meal. Depending on your financial situation, you and your family/friends may want to take a trip together to a warmer location. You can even take a trip alone, if you have sufficient funding and feel comfortable traveling solo. Spending a few days or a week on a warm, sunny beach might be just what you need to unwind from school and chase away the winter blues.  Start saving early and budget your money. Decide whether you'll need a hotel/motel, a rental car, and tickets to a theme park or other destination, and work those costs into your budget. If you're still young, ask your parents about whether a fun vacation might be possible. This type of trip can take months to plan, though, so be sure you ask well in advance of your winter break. Avoid traveling on major holiday weekends, as prices for flights tend to surge during these busy periods. You'll certainly be able to find lodging at a nationally-renown beach, but you can save a lot of money if you plan to stay at a smaller beach community off the beaten path. Just make sure that the area has what you need, including transportation and recreation options.  Find the best flight and/or hotel deals by searching a site like Expedia or BookingBuddy. These websites deliver prices from numerous travel pages to help you find the best prices, even on the same flight.  Plan on bringing one outfit per day, or scale down your suitcase by re-wearing some items. Just be sure you bring clothing that will be comfortable and appropriate for your destination.
Summary: Plan a road trip. Visit friends. Consider a warm vacation.

Problem: Article: Mix a cup (240 mL) of baking soda in a cup of warm water. Stir them together to form a paste. Apply the paste to the stain using your cloth or sponge. Wait for the paste to dry. Take a clean, dry cloth and use it to wipe off the paste. Check to see if the stain has been removed. Mix an equal amount of vinegar and warm water. Add them to a spray bottle if possible, since this will allow you to coat the stain with an even, controlled amount of the mixture. Spray the mixture onto the stain. After five minutes, come back and prepare to finish treating the backsplash with a general wash.. Dampen a soft cloth in warm water. Rub the cloth against the metal’s grain over the stained areas. Make sure all vinegar is removed. Finish up by using a soft cloth to remove the water. Make sure no water is left or else it can damage the backsplash.
Summary: Combine baking soda and warm water in a bowl. Let the baking soda paste dry on the stain. Combine vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Let the vinegar mixture sit on the stain for five minutes. Wipe off the vinegar with a damp cloth. Dry the backsplash with a clean cloth.

Problem: Article: If you want to use your engagement ring box when proposing, you can easily hide it in clothing like cargo pants and hooded sweatshirts. Simply slip the box into your pocket, and check on it periodically to make sure it stays in place. Then, pull out the box when the time is right. Keep tabs on your ring box so it does not fall out of your pocket. Touch your pocket or slip your hand inside every so often to ensure it is still in place. You don't want to lose it! You can purchase specialty socks designed to stash the ring box safely until it's time to propose. Order these online 1-3 weeks before your proposal so they arrive on time. Then, place your box inside the pocket before your proposal, and press it down into the sock as deep as you can.  When you are ready to propose, get down on 1 knee and slip your box out of the pocket. Oftentimes, these come with a discreet, slim-profile ring box. The prop you use will depend on what kind of proposal you want. For instance, if you are hiking and want to propose in the woods, place your box inside your backpack. Think about what props work best for your your proposal, and place the ring inside before you go! Remember exactly where you put the ring, and place it in a secure prop only you will handle.  You can also wrap the box in a blanket or place it inside a box of granola bars. If you are proposing at the beach, you can stash the ring box inside your beach bag or wrap it up inside of a towel. This is easy to pull off with a little bit of planning. Recruit an accomplice to carry the ring, and mention your proposal idea and timing. Come up with a discrete signal, like a hand gesture or head movement, so your accomplice is ready when the time is right. Give them the ring ahead of time, get into place, and make the signal! Your partner will not expect the ring to be in someone else’s hands.  For example, maybe you want to propose in the city where had your first date. Arrange to go out to lunch or dinner with a few others, and give the ring to a trusted person before you leave for the meal. Then, make your signal when you want to propose, and they can easily pass you the ring box when your partner is not looking. This is a great option if you and your partner live together. If you are worried that you cannot easily pull out the ring box and make a seamless proposal, then simply get rid of the box and hide the ring somewhere else. Sometimes the best proposals don’t involve the ring box at all. However, handle your ring with care so you don't lose it. It's much harder to lose a box than a ring.  You can stash it in your pocket, wallet, or small carrying pouch instead. This is a good idea if you’ve tried to stash the ring box on your person but it is still visible.
Summary:
Put the box inside of a pocket to conceal it on your body. Use specialty socks to hide the ring box if you want a creative option. Conceal the ring box inside of a prop to easily place it out of sight. Ask a friend or family member to carry the ring if proposing in public. Hide the ring by itself if you can't confidently conceal the box.