Instead of holding the barbell just above the ground as your starting position, start with the barbell resting on the ground. Place your hands a few inches wider apart than you would with a standard row. Since your arms and back won’t be as active as they would be during the standard starting positioning, compensate with a more explosive lift. This will force the muscles along your spine to participate more than they do during a standard row. Set the barbell back on the ground to finish each lift. If you continue to hold it in the air between lifts, you’re back to doing standard rows. Keeping your back straight, squat to take hold of the barbell. Grip it with an underhand grip (also called “supinated”) so that your palms are facing upward or outward, with your hands placed a little wider apart than shoulder-width. Extend your legs until you are standing upright with your arms held straight down toward the floor. Bend your knees a little. Then bend forward from your waist, but only until your upper torso is at a roughly 70 degree angle toward the floor.  Instead of rowing to your chest, lift the barbell to where your hips and lower torso form a crease This technique utilizes your biceps more than standard rows do. Although the standard row is typically performed with an overhand grip, feel free to switch it up. Use an underhand grip instead to utilize more of your lats and biceps when executing standard or Pendlay rows. Also favor the underhand grip if you tend to feel sharp discomfort in your shoulders during overhand rows.

Summary: Try a Pendlay row. Do a Yates row. Switch your grip.


Faux fur is made from a variety of materials, some of which are scratchy and itchy against your skin. Poor quality will make it easy to spot your fur as a fake, plus it’ll ruin the experience for you. A good quality faux fur will feel soft and luxurious, much like a real fur. In fact, some faux furs are hard to detect because they are so similar to the real thing. Press your finger into the fur and run it along the surface of the fur. Watch to see how the fur reacts to being pushed against. A good quality faux fur will quickly return to it’s plush state, while poor quality faux fur will stay flat and not bounce back. Read the label carefully to find out what your coat is made from. Many faux furs are made of acrylics, but they don’t all have the same texture. Additionally, go online to check any words that you don’t understand.  Some manufacturers have been accused of using actual fur pieces mixed into their faux fur to add quality while keeping the price low. If you are buying faux fur for ethical reasons, then you will want to know if your faux fur contains real fur. Kanecaron and Tissavel are two acrylic fibers that work well for faux fur coats.

Summary: Feel the texture to see if it’s soft. Mash down the fur to check the quality. Check the label.


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.

Summary: 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.


Colleges usually offer grants or partial scholarships. Look for programs or scholarships from outside sources that can help with the remaining cost. Apply for as many of these scholarships as you can to reduce the cost of your education as much as possible. Once you are in college, maintain the academic standing required of your scholarship. Most grants or scholarships require that you maintain a certain GPA or otherwise remain in good academic standing. Continue to work hard and get grades high enough to keep your scholarship for as long as you need it. Athletic scholarships are highly competitive, and they only go to the best players in a region or state. If you're not the best player on your team and in your region, getting an athletic scholarship will be difficult. Practice and work hard to improve in your sport. Contact coaches at colleges you're interested in.  The best athletic schools might overlook mediocre academics, but if a scholarship comes down to you and a similar player with better grades, chances are it'll go to the other person. Because of this, keep your grades up, too. Being proactive about getting recruited will put you on the coach's radar as an athlete. Since you came to them, they'll know you're interested in their school and will be more likely to consider you. While this scholarship can help you get a top-tier education for free, it comes with a cost. You'll have to spend upwards of 20 hours a week practicing your sport, which can keep you from investing in the academics of college. These scholarships are also re-awarded each year, so they can be taken away if your coach doesn't feel you need or deserve it each year.  Consider lower-division schools, too. While you may dream of playing for your favorite Division I school, these scholarships are much more difficult to get. The ROTC also offers scholarships if you're looking into joining the military. For most ROTC programs, you will serve four years of active service and four years with the Individual Ready Reserve, during which you can be called back to active duty. For certain positions, this commitment may be longer or shorter. For instance, pilots usually commit to 10 years of service. ROTC programs operate in over 1000 colleges and universities in the country. Decide on, apply to, and gain acceptance to one of these schools. If necessary, specify that you're applying as an ROTC student. You can then apply for the scholarships from there.  Make sure you fulfill the basic requirements for an ROTC scholarship. For high school students, you must be a US citizen between 17 and 26 years old, have a GPA of at least 2.50, have a high school diploma or GED, score a minimum of 920 on the combined math and verbal SAT or 19 on the ACT (excluding the writing portion), and meet certain physical requirements.  In order to keep your scholarship, you must maintain certain physical and academic standards throughout your college career. Make sure you stay physically fit, and keep your GPA above the required minimum (2.50 or 3, depending on your branch of ROTC). Scholarships can be taken away if you fail to meet the necessary requirements, so be aware of your standing within your program. After college, fulfill your service commitment. ROTC gives you a free college education, so be sure to honor your commitment to service in the armed forces. Do you have an unusual hobby? Are you from a minority or military background? Are you a first-generation college student? What are your talents and interests? Write down everything you can think of, and make a note of anything that might help you land a scholarship. There are tons out there that you may qualify for.  Use reputable websites like CollegeScholarships.org, FastWeb, or  Scholarships.com to search through many available scholarships. Research everything you can think of to find scholarships that you might qualify for, or look through a list of scholarships for those that fit your background and interests. If applicable, put together a portfolio, promotion video, or other material to display your skills. Scholarships in the arts generally require proof of the quality of your work. For writing, photography, or art, put together a portfolio to display the quality and diversity of your work. For dance, music, or other talents, make audio or video recordings of your best performances. These don't need to be fancy, but they should show off your talent as well as possible.
Summary: Apply for academic scholarships. Aim for an athletic scholarship. Consider going the ROTC route. Apply for more unique scholarships.