INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The topping will have a thick paste-like consistency, so use clean hands to separate it into 12 equally sized balls. Press down on the balls with the palm of your hand to flatten them until they're approximately ⅛- to ¼-inch thick (3- to 6-mm) thick. Set one of the flattened topping pieces on top of each roll on the baking sheet. Press the topping down onto the dough lightly to secure it in place. The topping and dough should align, but if the topping is slightly larger, press it down over the sides of the dough. Use a sharp knife, such as a paring knife, to lightly score the topping. You can create simple curved lines or a crisscross design, depending on your preference.

SUMMARY: Divide the topping into 12 balls and flatten them. Place one piece of topping on each dough ball. Cut grooves into the topping.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can either run the shoes under warm water in the sink or tub, or use a damp washcloth to apply water to the straps. If your sandals are particularly dirty or dusty, moistening the straps well will be very important.  You can floss both synthetic and leather Chacos. Don’t use hot water—warm to lukewarm will be fine. Place a clean towel down on the counter before starting to work to keep your surface area clean. Put several drops of liquid fabric softener into either side of the strap slots, both on the outside and on the inside.  The fabric softener acts as a lubricant for the straps. If you accidentally pour too much fabric softener, that is okay! It will all get rinsed off at the end. The straps of your Chacos are adjustable and thread through the sole of the shoe—so you just need to pull the straps so they move through the sole and push out the dirt, sand, and dust that has accumulated in the strap slots.  Your Chacos actually are made up of just the footbed and 1 continuous strap threaded through the sole, which you adjust to conform to the shape of your foot. If you feel like you can’t get the straps to move, keep trying! They may be dusty or hardened from grime, so try adding some more water or fabric softener until they start to slide through the slots. If you are flossing your Chacos and notice that there seems to be no end to the dirt coming out, putting them in warm water while continuing to floss them will help rinse away that dirt a little bit better. If you are cleaning your Chacos regularly, you probably won’t need to submerge them in water, but if it has been a few months since the last time you flossed them, it may take a little longer to get them clean. Use your sink or tub to rinse all the fabric softener and dislodged dirt off of your Chacos. Either hang them to dry or set them outside in the sun for a few hours before wearing them again. Chacos generally don’t take very long to dry, so check them after 2 or 3 hours to see if they’re ready to be worn again yet.

SUMMARY: Wet the straps thoroughly with warm water. Add a few drops of liquid fabric softener into the strap slots. Pull, or floss, the straps in and out of the slot to dislodge the dirt. Submerge them in warm water while flossing if there is a lot of dirt. Rinse your Chacos thoroughly and set them aside to air dry.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you are ready to try out a tampon, make sure that you go to a place where no one will bother you. A bathroom at home is ideal because a school bathroom could open you up to interruption. If you afraid of interruption at home, you can always pretend to take a bath or shower while you give it a shot. Make sure to wash your hands before and after touching and using a tampon. Try to relax yourself. You can take a few breaths and then count down from ten. Or, you can repeat, “You can do this,” over and over again in your head. It may also be helpful to listen to some soothing music in your iPod or do a few general stretches. Visualize being somewhere else and doing something that you enjoy. Think about all of the things that you’ve accomplished that were challenging at first. Remind yourself that a few years down the road using a tampon will be second nature and not a big deal. You need to stay relaxed mentally and physically or your vaginal muscles will contract, making it more difficult to insert the tampon. It you just can’t seem to relax, it may be best to start over another time. If you feel as if your vaginal muscles are tensing up, you may be experiencing vaginismus. This is a perfectly normal physical reaction to stress and will lessen if you relax. Don’t feel the need to rush. Even if you just spend some time examining the tampon itself that can be considered progress. Also, it is better to go slowly and have a good experience than to rush and never consider using a tampon again.

SUMMARY: Find a place where you won’t be interrupted. Take deep breaths. Focus on calming thoughts. Take your time.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Having your talking points planned out can be a huge help. This will allow you to focus on the important parts of the conversation and get your message across to the other person. If you need to, practice in front of a mirror or write out your main points before the conversation. An example of something you might say would be “I know that the rest of the family is religious, but I simply do not believe the same things.” Some friends or family members will be more open and accepting than others. These people make a good place to start when coming out as an atheist. They are likely to have a positive and compassionate reaction. This will build your confidence to approach your less open-minded loved ones.  For example, you might start by asking your uncle “Why is that you never go to church with everyone else?” Keep in mind that it may not mean he is atheist at all, but you can now steer the conversation in that direction by saying something like “Church is awkward for me because I am atheist.” If you have a friend or family member that is openly atheist, it might be a good idea to have a conversation with them about how they came out. Posting the information to Facebook, or telling a friend of a friend will almost surely lead to your loved ones finding out secondhand. Word travels fast, and your closest connections will likely be upset by the fact that you didn't tell them yourself. You should make time to talk to parents, best friends, siblings, etc. before coming out publicly.   Saying something like “I need to talk to you about something, and I wanted you to hear it from me,” is a good way to start this conversation with a loved one. Naturally, they will ask what it is, and you can continue with “I am an atheist.” Failing to tell those closest to you may alienate them. The task of telling them you are atheist can be challenging enough without added tension. You want your loved ones to be in the right frame of mind to hear you out, instead of just lashing out at you. If you plan to tell your religious friends or family about your lack of belief, you should do it in private, with plenty of time to discuss the matter, and at a time that they are in a good mood. A good time and place to discuss this might be at a family dinner. On the contrary, it may be a bad idea to bring it up at your parent's workplace, or even worse, in their church. Coming out as an atheist can seem like a way to rebel, or can come across as confrontational to the religious establishment in which you were raised (or formerly identified). Make sure that you frame the conversation around your lack of religion and not the fact that you find the other person's belief to be “wrong.” Try saying things like “I personally do not believe that God is real,” in place of things like “Believing in God is absolutely absurd. There is no proof!”

SUMMARY:
Know what you want to say. Practice with an open minded person. Communicate directly with loved ones first. Choose a good time and place to talk. Use “I” statements.