Q: As noted above, when you use frozen berries in baking recipes, you'll almost never want to thaw them before adding them to the recipe. Doing this creates extra moisture in the recipe and can lead to a final product that's mushy or watery. Some people find that thawing their berries about halfway in the microwave before baking produces great-tasting results without adding too much moisture. If you want to try this, note that the exact amount of time you'll need to keep your berries in the microwave for will vary based on the number of berries you have and the power of your microwave. Sometimes, when using frozen berries in baking recipes, the berries can "bleed", producing discolorations throughout the batter. Though this won't effect their taste, it can make the finished products a little less appealing to look at. To minimize the effects of bleeding, try gently rolling your frozen berries in flower before adding them to your baking recipe. This helps contain the berries' moisture, minimizing bleeding. There are some instances where you'll want to thaw your berries before using them in your recipe. Usually, these are cases where the extra moisture that comes from thawing is a benefit to the dish, like blackberry sauces and toppings for ice cream, shortcake, and so on. To quickly thaw blackberries, place them in an airtight plastic bag (or keep them in their original freezer bag) and submerge them in cold water for about 10-15 minutes.  To keep the bag of blackberries from floating and thawing unevenly, you may want to weigh it down with a heavy dish or bowl. Another situation in which you'll want to thaw your blackberries is if you intend to eat them raw. Though frozen berries make a great summertime treat, sometimes there's nothing like ordinary berries. For raw berries, you may want to use the quick thawing method above, or simply leave them on the kitchen counter overnight. Dumping your berries in a container of cool, clean water after thawing them to wash away any frost or debris leftover from freezing. At this point, you may also want to sift through your berries and remove any crushed or damaged ones.  Don't be put off by the soft, juicy appearance of thawed blackberries. Though they may not look as pristine as fresh berries, if they were fresh when they were frozen, they're safe to eat.
A: Don't thaw berries for most baking recipes. Roll frozen berries in flour to prevent bleeding. Thaw berries for liquid recipes. Thaw berries intended for raw consumption.

Q: Purchase a 4-ounce (118-milliliter) bottle of clear school glue. Open up the cap, and squeeze everything into a bowl. Make sure that you use the basic, all-purpose kind of school glue and not the "washable" kind. The washable kind of school glue does not work as well.  For more interesting silly putty, get the kind of glue that already has glitter and color mixed into it. For opaque silly putty, use regular white school glue. Pour ½ cup (120 milliliters) of warm water into a cup. Add 1 teaspoon of borax. Stir the two together until the borax has dissolved. If you are a child, have an adult supervise you.
A: Squeeze a small bottle of clear school glue into a bowl. Mix some borax with warm water.

Q: Don’t sacrifice the time you need to rejuvenate due to having too many demands on your time. Position your mental and physical health as one of your top priorities.  Yoga, meditation, massages, or late-night swimming are all examples of self-care activities. Whatever relaxes you should always have a place on your schedule. Find a passion or hobby you love. It is a mistake to think the only way to balance life is to cut things out that are just for fun. You need fun time to rejuvenate yourself. Getting a great workout or hiking outdoors gives you a change of scenery and break for your mind. This does not always mean making a special trip to the gym in order to take a physical break. Use one of your breaks at work to walk around the building outside or ride your bike home from work if you can.  Sharing physical activities with your partner or children can be a fun way to spend time together. But, don't feel bad about giving yourself permission to enjoy certain activities alone as well. If you are a parent of younger children, consider joining a gym with a daycare option. This is a quick break for those days where the kids seem to be overwhelming and you require some much-needed endorphins. You would be surprised at how much of a difference one hour of working out and taking a kid break can do. It is important for you to feel connected to the universe and to find your purpose in life. Making time for spirituality allows you to direct your attention inward, leading to greater resilience to life struggles and even a longer life.  Do not confuse spiritual needs with religion--the two may or may not intersect. If you are religious, this can include organized services and time with small groups who share your focus. Passing on your beliefs and history to your family can also be a big part of this. Spirituality can also come from being a part of the larger community, in whatever form you enjoy. It can include volunteering with a special community service project or connecting with others in your neighborhood. Other forms of spirituality may be meditation, journaling, prayer, or even doing yoga.
A: Pick a self-care activity and do it regularly. Be sure to make time for physical activity. Attend to your spiritual needs.

Q: Keeping cedar in your closet will do double duty of neutralizing stinky shoes and also keep moths away from your clothes. Win/win! If you keep your shoes in a gym bag or a locker, try using mini deodorizers (like Sneaker Balls) to keep nasty odors at bay.
A:
Store your shoes with a cedar block.